The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) and the Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Bengaluru on 20 September 2026 to strengthen cooperation in silk and sericulture development, research, technology, capacity building, product development, marketing and export promotion.

The MoU was signed in connection with the 77th Foundation Day celebration of the Central Silk Board held at the Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. The programme brought together stakeholders from the silk and sericulture sector and featured exhibitions, technology launches, research and institutional initiatives, release of publications and exchange of MoUs.

The partnership provides a framework for collaboration between NEHHDC and CSB across various stages of the silk and sericulture value chain. The areas of cooperation include pre-cocoon activities, silk research and dissemination of research and development outcomes, post-cocoon technologies, industrial infrastructure, training and capacity building, product development, design innovation, marketing linkages and export promotion.

The two institutions will also explore the development and adoption of suitable and affordable sericulture and silk technologies, particularly those applicable to rural areas. The collaboration will facilitate exchange of technical knowledge and expertise and support initiatives aimed at developing high-value sericulture and silk products.

The MoU will enable the two institutions to undertake collaborative projects based on identified requirements and mutually approved plans. Project-specific agreements, including Detailed Project Reports and Memoranda of Agreement, may be prepared wherever required. The Managing Director, NEHHDC, Guwahati, and the Director (Tech), Central Silk Board, Bengaluru, have been designated as coordinators from their respective institutions to facilitate coordination and implementation.

The agreement also provides for cooperation with other public or private institutions, wherever their participation is relevant to the identified areas of collaboration. Provisions relating to intellectual property, confidentiality and knowledge sharing have also been incorporated to facilitate the implementation of joint initiatives.

The MoU will remain in force for five years from the date of the last signing and may be extended by mutual consent. The agreement provides an institutional framework for sustained cooperation between NEHHDC and CSB, with a focus on research, technology, skill development, product innovation, infrastructure and market linkages in the silk and sericulture sector.

The collaboration is expected to support the development of technology-driven and market-oriented initiatives, particularly by connecting technical and research capabilities with field-level development and value-chain opportunities in the silk and sericulture sector.

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