Administrative Secretary reviews Preparations for Seabuckthorn Conference in Ladakh.

Administrative Secretary reviews Preparations for Seabuckthorn Conference in Ladakh.
Leh, August 12, 2026: Administrative Secretary, Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, Himanshu Gupta, chaired a meeting to review preparations for the upcoming Seabuckthorn Conference, scheduled to be held on September 18 and 19, 2026, during the peak harvesting season of seabuckthorn in Ladakh.
The conference aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the potential of seabuckthorn cultivation, processing, value addition, branding and market linkages.
The meeting reviewed the proposed programme, venue, event management arrangements, budgetary requirements and participation of experts and stakeholders.
It was informed that the conference would be organised by the Industries Department in collaboration with the Horticulture Department, with a focus on showcasing the potential of Ladakh’s seabuckthorn sector and strengthening opportunities for local producers and entrepreneurs.
The Administrative Secretary directed the concerned officers to finalise the venue and programme schedule at the earliest and ensure comprehensive arrangements for the conference. He instructed the Director, Industries, and the OSD for Special Projects to coordinate with the office of the Chief Secretary and ensure timely completion of all preparatory activities.
Emphasising the importance of bringing specialised knowledge and global experience to the conference, the Administrative Secretary directed the organisers to invite experts and speakers from outside Ladakh and explore participation from international experts, including potential speakers from Mongolia, subject to availability and confirmation. He also directed the concerned department to prepare formal invitation letters and initiate the necessary communication with prospective speakers.
The meeting also discussed the engagement of a professional event-management agency for conducting the conference. It was decided that the selection process should be carried out through a transparent quotation/bidding mechanism, with a committee constituted to oversee the process and ensure timely finalisation of the agency.
The Administrative Secretary stressed the need for proper coordination between the concerned departments and directed that all financial requirements, including speaker participation, logistics and event-management expenses, be assessed and finalised in advance.
He further directed the officers to explore convergence and necessary support from relevant national agencies, including the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), for strengthening the value-addition and market-promotion component of the conference.
He emphasised that the conference should not remain limited to discussions but should result in concrete outcomes and actionable recommendations for strengthening the seabuckthorn value chain in Ladakh, particularly in processing, product development, branding, market access and entrepreneurship.
The meeting was attended by the OSD for Special Projects, Director, Industries; Director, Horticulture; young professionals associated with the Office of the Chief Secretary; and other senior officers of the concerned departments.
Thanks & Regards,
Department of Information & Public Relations,
UT Ladakh