Mithaiwale from Pune, namkeen makers from Uttar Pradesh and rosogolla manufacturers from Bengal will be among those who will take part in the first World Mithai and Namkeen Convention to be held in the city from December 17.
The three-day event at the Milan Mela ground will see participants from across the country and representatives of the sweetmeat industry from at least 10 countries exchanging ideas.
The aim: the delicate “Makha Sandesh of Bengal should make it to Malaysia riding the latest advances in technology and preservation”, the organisers said.
“There is a huge demand for Bengal’s original mishti. This conclave is aimed at giving the mishti makers a peek into the demand that’s knocking on their doors from across the country,” said Firoz H. Naqvi, director of the Federation of Sweet and Namkeen Manufacturers, the key organiser of the convention.
“The state government has come up with several incentivised plans for small and medium entrepreneurs in this industry. But a majority of them still aren’t aware of the potential of the market that lies untapped. Here’s a chance to witness the opportunities and explore how to embrace them,” said Dhiman Das, president of Mishti Udyog, an umbrella body of sweet and savoury entrepreneurs in Bengal.
Among several issues that will be discussed, shortage of skilled labour will be one.
“Nationally, there is a huge demand for skilled workers, particularly those who can make the typical sweets of Bengal,” said Virender Kumar Jain, president of the federation of sweet and namkeen manufacturers. “This convention will aim to find ways to train individuals to make sweets typical to a region.”
“We have started an initiative to train individuals so that they become mishti karigars. The first set will take their exams on December 11,” said Nilanjan Ghosh of Mithai sweetshop.