Kolkata Showcases East & Northeast India’s Design Potential at MATECIA–SURFACES REPORTER Event
Kolkata, Jan 30: India’s leading building materials exhibition, MATECIA Exhibition along with SURFACES REPORTER, one of India’s most respected architecture and design media platforms, was formally inaugurated today at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan Kolkata. The inauguration marks the launch of the largest-ever confluence of architecture, interiors, and building materials for East and Northeast India.
Held from 30 January to 1 February 2026, the three-day event was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished industry leaders, senior architects, and policymakers. National Award–winning actor, motivational speaker, and Founder of Ashish Vidyarthi & Associates, Mr. Ashish Vidyarthi, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The inaugural ceremony featured the traditional lamp lighting and opening address by Mr. Rajesh Mittal, President, FIPPI and CMD, Greenply Industries Ltd; Mr. Surinder Arora, President, ILMA and Managing Director, Virgo Industries Ltd; Mr. Ramesh Bagla, President, CTMA; and Ms. Meenakshi Ganeshan, Deputy Director General, BIS, East Zone. They were joined by senior leaders including Mr. Manoj Lohia of Merino Industries Ltd, Mr. Joydeep Chitlangia of Duroply, Mr. Vishal Dokania of Durian, Mr. Rushil Thakkar of Rushil Décor, Mr. Gajanan Munka of Saburi Plywood, Mr. Gaurav Bagla, President, BTIA, Mr. Vikas Khemka, Vice President, BTMA, Mr. M.P. Singh, former Director, IWST and FIPPI, and Mr. J. Ahuja of ILMA.
The event brought together over 150 leading architecture and design firms, interior designers, developers, dealers, brands, and channel partners from more than 12 states across East and Northeast India, including Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. The strong regional participation positioned Kolkata as a vital cultural and regional bridge, while reinforcing the scale, diversity, and creative strength of the eastern and northeastern design ecosystem.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ashish Vidyarthi said,
“Life becomes exciting when people choose to build something meaningful with it. What truly moved me about this industry is that it works quietly, yet shapes everything we live in from our homes to our cities. Behind every road, bridge and building are passionate creators and manufacturers who rarely seek the spotlight, but whose work defines progress.”
Highlighting the importance of industry platforms, he added, “Platforms like MATECIA and the SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event bring this unseen ecosystem to life, celebrating both the makers and the architectural fraternity that consistently insists on quality, integrity and thoughtful choices. It is this commitment to relevance, value and responsibility that allows an industry and the people within it to remain vibrant and enduring.”
Spread across over 1,50,000 sq. ft., the event featured 100+ leading interior and surface brands and brought together the topmost architects and interior designers from east and northeast representing over 500 landmark projects. The event welcomed an estimated 14,000–16,000 visitors from 100+ towns and cities.
Verticaa Dvivedi, Director, Surfaces Reporter Architecture Event, said,
“The successful inauguration of the MATECIA Exhibition and SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event has affirmed what we have always believed these regions are not peripheral markets, but are the centres of architectural thought and innovation. The local designers view climate, context, and culture not as limitations, but as their source of creativity, teaching the world through their work. This issue is the start of a bigger story at the national level where the architects from the East and Northeast of India get their proper place in the creative arena of the country.”
Emphasising both the material and market opportunity, Pragat Dvivedi, Director, MATECIA Exhibition, said,
“The response to MATECIA Exhibition and SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event clearly confirms that East and Northeast India are rapidly turning into serious growth markets. With rapid urban development, expanding infrastructure, and a growing community of design conscious professionals, these regions are paving the way for the next generation of India’s building materials industry. Our participation in the event is a signal of our firm conviction that the materials market of the country in the future will be driven by the East and Northeast at least as much as by any other region.”
The event witnessed the presence of prominent architects including Ar. Sunil Maniramka, Ar. Rupande Shah, Ar. Monica Khosla Bhargava, Ar. Amber Chandgothia, Ar. J. P. Agrawal, and Ar. Bipratip Dhar, among others. Additionally, architectural associations from Jharkhand, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh participated enthusiastically, reinforcing the strong collective identity and collaborative spirit of the region’s architectural community.
A key highlight of the platform Surfaces Reporter Salutes Architecture & Design Honours is scheduled for 31 January 2026 from 4:00 PM onwards. As the first collective regional recognition initiative dedicated exclusively to East and Northeast India, the honours celebrates around 100 leading architects and interior designers, the creative forces behind more than 500 of the region’s most notable projects, recognising excellence across residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional and urban design.
The event highlights India Interior Retailing (IIR), a knowledge platform that brings industry and interior retail leaders together, creating a high-energy space for learning, networking, and growth. In addition, the Surfaces Reporter SHOWCASE will address a special presentation zone where brands present and architects review, offering an excellent opportunity for interaction and collaboration between designers and manufacturers.
The MATECIA Exhibition and SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event East & Northeast India took a firm step forward in the re-interpretation of the region at the national level while establishing the region’s design excellence firmly on India’s architectural map.