Nagaland seeks global partnerships at inaugural roundtable in Kohima

DIMAPUR — On the eve of the Hornbill Festival 2025, the ‘Inaugural Roundtable & Networking Dinner’ with country partners was held at the banquet hall of Hotel Vivor, Kohima, on Sunday.

According to a DIPR report, Nagaland is poised to strengthen its global footprint as it prepares to host a landmark diplomatic and economic engagement ahead of the Hornbill Festival 2025.

The Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) convened the inaugural roundtable and networking dinner with country partners, bringing together international representatives, government officials, and key industry stakeholders for a high- level dialogue.

The roundtable follows the recent announcement by the chief minister designating six nations — Austria, France, Ireland, Malta, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom as country partners for this year's Hornbill Festival, an initiative that underscores the state's growing emphasis on global engagement.

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Reinforcing regional cooperation, Arunachal Pradesh has been named the state partner, strengthening North-East India's shared vision for development and collaborative growth.

With the participation of senior diplomats, including the confirmed attendance of the ambassadors of France, Ireland, Switzerland and the high commissioner of Malta, the roundtable marks a significant milestone in Nagaland's outreach to the international community.

“Their presence signals a growing interest among foreign missions to explore Nagaland as an emerging interface for economic, cultural, and strategic partnership in the North- East,” it stated.

“More than a ceremonial curtain-raiser, the roundtable is structured as a strategic platform for policy dialogue, identify concrete opportunities for partnership, promoting cross-border collaboration, and deepen bilateral relations with participating nations.”

Stakeholders across sectors like tourism, trade, investment, innovation, technology, and creative and cultural industries are expected to converge to engage with Nagaland's government agencies and local enterprises to identify practical partnership models, joint ventures, and investment pipelines that can be progressed during and after the festival.

Key components of engagements during the Hornbill Festival will be the series of roundtables, B2Bs and stakeholder sessions.

“This roundtable signifies Nagaland's readiness to engage with the country partners on pragmatic investment opportunities and in positioning the state as an emerging player in regional diplomacy, economic partnership, and cultural engagement.

“The Hornbill Festival, already one of India's most prominent cultural festivals, is increasingly being broadened to catalyse cultural exchange into concrete economic and investment opportunities. By pairing national and international partners with Nagaland's entrepreneurs and institutions, the roundtable engagements aim to be a platform where culture meets commerce, heritage meets innovation, and local aspirations meet international possibilities,” the report stated.

The inaugural roundtable is expected to set the tone for a series of high -level engagements, reinforcing Nagaland's vision of fostering meaningful, long- term relationships with both foreign partners and neighbouring states.

During the programme, country partners emphasised the importance and possibilities of collaborating and partnering with Nagaland in the areas of education, sports, cultural, health, digital, food processing industries, infrastructure, agriculture etc.

Advisor to chief minister and chairman of IDAN, Abu Metha, who delivered the welcome address, chaired the programme.