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Neiphiu Rio addresses the gathering at the 7th edition of Young Leaders Connect (YLC) in New Delhi on Saturday.[/caption]
Dimapur, Nov. 3 (EMN): The Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio on Saturday lamented the lack of connectivity among the north-eastern states in spite of being neighbours and from the same region.
Delivering the keynote address at the 7th edition of Young Leaders Connect (YLC) at The Grand, Vasant Kunj in New Delhi on November 2, Rio who was also the chief patron of the conclave said, "The single biggest opportunity for Northeast to grow is connectivity among the region. The region should come together to fight for Northeast and have one common voice rather than being a competitor.”
This was informed through a press release made available to the media on Saturday. The theme for this year's conclave was "Made in North-East" and focussed on entrepreneurship in the Northeast region.
Rio stated further that a major challenge for the north-eastern states was unemployment even though literacy rate in the region is “more than the national average." The Act East policy has opened the region to various opportunities and the youth should take the lead to benefit from it. "The region has to identify its potential and synchronise to prosper," he said.
Hekani Jakhalu, member of YLC and founder of YouthNet, in her address, described Rio ‘as the most youth-friendly chief minister’ and expressed appreciation to him for being the chief patron of the event.
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju "highlighted the need to change in the perception of Northeast" at the event, according to the statement. He stated that "isolation is in the mind and not necessarily in distance," and added that Northeast should stop playing the 'blame game'.
The conclave focussed on key sectors such as agro-allied and food processing, handloom and handicraft, tourism and hospitality, sports and entertainment.
"The conclave focused on entrepreneurship in the North-East region and showcased discussions from investors, banks, policy makers, entrepreneurs, technocrats, governments and various stakeholders who will help build the success of an entrepreneurial eco system in the region," the statement added.
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A section of the crowd is seen at the event.[/caption]
A total of 13 YLC Northeast entrepreneurship fellows graduated after completing their fellowship.
The conclave this year was presided over by Kiren Rijiju and co-chaired by the chief minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma, and former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, it informed. Six-time world boxing champion and Rajya Sabha MP, Mary Kom, also spoke at the event.
