President Droupadi Murmu hosted the traditional ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, bringing together national and international dignitaries, distinguished citizens, and invited guests from across the country.
Among those invited was Maninder Kalsi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of TGG Technologies Private Limited, which operates the frozen food startup ChfMart. Kalsi attended the reception as a representative of Northeast India, reflecting the region’s growing participation in the national business ecosystem.
The invitation recognised the work of Kalsi and his team, including Chief Operating Officer Kavita Verma, in developing a frozen food supply chain that connects producers and farmers from the Northeast with markets across India. The company has received investment support from NEDFi through its growth venture capital arm, the North East Venture Fund. Kalsi also acknowledged early institutional support from Assam Startup and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, which contributed to the company’s initial development.
Several prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, attended the reception.
This year’s ‘At Home’ reception highlighted the artistic heritage, traditional knowledge, craftsmanship, and cuisine of the Northeastern states. Cultural presentations and curated regional food were part of the programme, offering guests an introduction to the region’s traditions at a national-level event.
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Speaking after the reception, Maninder Kalsi said, “Being invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ‘At Home’ reception is a profound honour for our team at ChfMart. From receiving the invitation to walking through those historic lawns, it felt surreal to stand among leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the country.”
“Next financial year, we aim to achieve a ₹30 crore turnover, expand our network of cold rooms and reefer trucks, and set up the largest frozen food processing plant in East India at the Industrial Area, Serfanguri, District Kokrajhar, Assam, together with our COO, Kavita Verma, and the entire Northeast startup ecosystem.”
“Our work in bringing a revolution to the frozen food sector is gaining national recognition, and this motivates us to scale further for Viksit Bharat.”
Apart from political leaders, the event was attended by beneficiaries of government programmes, individuals from different professional backgrounds, and representatives of various communities. The reception underscored an inclusive approach to the Republic Day celebrations.
Photographs from the event show Kalsi at Rashtrapati Bhavan alongside other invitees, reflecting the increasing national visibility of entrepreneurs from Northeast India.
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