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Neiphiu Rio speaking at the inauguration of ‘Made in Nagaland Centre’ at the new Secretariat in Kohima on June 27. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 27 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said that the government of Nagaland is working on ‘new industrial approach’ and policies to promote entrepreneurship, and to create congenial conditions for business to thrive in the state.
He informed on Wednesday about the formation of the ‘Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland’ (IDAN), which will seek ways to bring in investors. The board members of the newly formed IDAN, he said, shall be ‘moving around in the country and even abroad’ and ‘strive to bring good investors to build the state’s economy’ towards ‘self sustainability and self sufficiency’ through utilising locally available resources.
The chief minister was speaking at the inauguration of a ‘Made in Nagaland Centre’ a project of a capacity-building group, Youthnet, at the new Secretariat on June 27 in Kohima.
Noting that there were no investors coming in and the few that are left are moving out, Rio remarked “the replacement of those people are not good enough to make us progressive but to earn from us.”
The chief minister pointed to the need to exploit locally available resources especially in the agriculture and allied sector, which he said would be profitable. Rio said that the government had recently obtained ‘organic certification’ and would soon declare Nagaland an ‘organic state.’
‘Just announcing will not do,’ he added though. Efforts ought to be exerted not only towards mass production and attaining export capital but also in quality control to ensure commercial viability, he said.
The chief minister talked also about other government activities. The government wants to declare Nagaland ‘open defecation free’ (ODF) by August and ‘free from plastic’ by November, he said.
He said that the government was focused on promoting entrepreneurship, the industry sector and in motivating the youth of the state to do business in whatever capacity they can. However, Rio reminded that ‘work culture’ and consistency in doing business are a requirement.
Nonetheless, the chief minister expressed confidence in the youth. He said that the young are gifted and have innovative minds; they have the potential to progress and take the state forward. The only thing Rio lamented about was that the people were yet to inculcate ‘work culture’ besides their apparent lack of consistency,’ which he implied were two important factors for one to succeed in entrepreneurship.
Though Nagas are ‘very good in copying others,’ Rio maintained, the Nagas can do much better than that and do not have to ‘borrow anything from outside.’
“We have our own potentials, raw materials and rich traditional crafts, motives and designs that are and can attract people and not by copying others.”
The chief minister stated also that the government has ‘many visions to bring change’ to the people of the state with the involvement of youth as its partner. But in order to bring change, he said, unless everyone get involved there will be no change in the state.
The government is ‘always with the youth,’ Rio said. It is willing to support genuine entrepreneurs through building linkages with financial institutions and send them for various trainings to gain practical knowledge and develop entrepreneurial skills. This is to promote entrepreneurship among the youth, he said.
The chief minister appreciated Youthnet for being in partnership with the government to take the challenge of nurturing talents, promoting creativity, and motivating the youth in setting up an eco-system of creativity and entrepreneurship.
Implying the need to build a strategic and robust system for businesses to thrive, Rio asserted that if the Nagas want to be at par with others and be proud to be called Nagas, there is a requirement for them to truly ‘inculcate work culture and a sense of competition by doing things differently that would attract the people.’
Giving a brief highlight of Made in Nagaland Centre was Hekani Jakhalu of Youthnet. She said that the concept of opening a one-stop shop for Nagaland-made products was conceptualised three years ago. The centre was opened in partnership with department of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and the New and Renewable Energy, and the Kohima Municipal Council.
Jakhalu said that the primary objective of the centre is to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products, which are locally made. More than 100 entrepreneurs are currently involved with the centre with products ranging from handicraft and handlooms to paintings, and from accessories to food processing, among others, all under one roof.
