New logistics training centre in Dimapur aims to equip Naga youth with industry skills and connect them to jobs.
COLTE to train hundreds annually, offer industry and international placement opportunities
DIMAPUR — A new logistics training centre inaugurated in Dimapur on Friday is aiming to connect Naga youth with jobs in one of the country’s growing sectors, with officials highlighting industry training, placement opportunities and even prospects for employment abroad.
Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang inaugurated the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) at the Nagaland Integrated Hub for Skills, Kushiabill, Dimapur. The centre has been established by Redington Foundation in collaboration with the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC).
Speaking at the inauguration, Zeliang urged Naga youth to look beyond government employment and make use of opportunities emerging in the private sector, particularly logistics and supply chain management.
He said the centre would bring industry-oriented training closer to youth who otherwise had to travel to cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata for training and employment.
Zeliang described Dimapur as strategically placed for the sector, being Nagaland’s commercial hub and the state’s road, rail and air gateway. He pointed out that large volumes of agricultural and indigenous products, including Naga King Chilli, kiwi, coffee and bamboo products, move through the city.
Despite this, he said, relatively few local youth had received formal training to build careers in logistics.
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Citing Directorate of Economics and Statistics data, the deputy chief minister said more than 71,000 people were registered as unemployed with employment exchanges in Nagaland. He suggested that the actual number could be higher than one lakh, while around 92% of registered unemployed lacked formal technical or vocational training.
He expressed confidence that the partnership between the LSC, Redington Foundation and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt Ltd would provide nationally recognised training, industry linkages and placement opportunities.
The centre will offer training in areas including warehousing, supply chain management and logistics technology. Zeliang also highlighted an MoU between the LSC and Zipaworld Innovation for international placements, saying trained youth could potentially access employment opportunities beyond major Indian cities.
He said the government would work with the partners to ensure genuine employment placements and explore the expansion of skill development facilities to other districts.
Speaking as special guest, MLA and Advisor for Labour, Employment and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer said the inauguration marked the materialisation of an agreement signed between the state government, Redington Foundation and LSC on March 31, 2026.
He said the logistics sector, encompassing transportation, warehousing, supply chain operations and distribution, would generate increasing employment opportunities as connectivity and economic activity in the Northeast expand.
Under the partnership, the state government has provided space, administrative support and assistance in mobilising candidates, while Redington Foundation is supporting the centre through its CSR commitment. The LSC, a quasi-government organisation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will operate the centre and deliver training.
Longkumer said COLTE is expected to train 360 students annually, with placement assured, and stressed that the success of skill-development programmes should ultimately be measured by employment outcomes rather than the number of people trained.
He called for continuous engagement with employers, market-oriented training and proper monitoring of training quality and employment outcomes.
Redington Limited Independent Director B Ramaratnam said the centre brings classroom and practical training facilities under one roof, making industry-oriented skilling more accessible, particularly to youth from remote areas.
He highlighted the Northeast’s potential as a gateway to Southeast Asia in trade, logistics and connectivity, saying COLTE could bridge the gap between education and employment.
Ramaratnam said the initiative is a public-private CSR partnership, with the Nagaland government providing around 25,000 sq ft of space at the government ITI building free of cost, while Redington Foundation will bear the centre’s annual operational costs and support it with technology, training and programme management.
According to him, COLTE Nagaland aims to train around 400 unemployed youth from economically weaker sections annually, with women and girls targeted to make up 20% of participants. The centre is also expected to facilitate placements with starting salaries of around INR 3 lakh per annum.