Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 20: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said his government was in the process of drawing up a new industrial policy to help promote Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) with special focus on start-ups, including the agricultural sector.
The chief minister made this announcement during the first-ever Northeast Summit at Niathu Resort in Dimapur. He also committed to empower local entrepreneurs by promoting cottage industries, handloom and handicrafts, natural and agricultural products of Nagaland.
Rio said that the new industrial policy would focus on empowering the local entrepreneurs besides h establishing manufacturing hubs and economic zones.
“In fact, our state was one of the first to announce a policy for organic cultivation in 2005 and we will continue to promote organic cultivation and a revised policy is due very soon. We are looking at the constraints to the investment in the state and therefore, we are devising means for a new land record and land use policy. We intend to revise our power policy to facilitate investment in the hydro power sector and we have set up the investment and Development Authority of Nagaland to help set all these into motion.”
According to Rio, the ‘turbulent era’ of Naga history was past; with democratic negotiation taking the place of gunfire and the possibilities of peace looming large.
“Four-lane highways are coming up all over the region indicative of the improving connectivity in the region. In Nagaland, the work on four lane of Dimapur to Kohima road; a road that was built during World War II is underway under a new nomenclature.”
In terms of foreign trade and commerce, Rio said Nagaland was placed at a very advantageous location, sharing almost 99% of its borders with foreign countries and connection with Southeast Asia.
“The region is rich in rubber, bamboo, minerals, tea and coffee, which are attracting a lot of customers both international and domestic, thereby creating possible investment opportunities. The market for food processing is at infancy in the region. We are seeing the emergence of innovative entrepreneurs who are collaborating with and procuring directly from local farmers to create innovative products from chocolates to spice blends to sauces and jams. The department of Women Resource Development empowers our local women famers and artisans, selling innovative products under the brand Myki.
“The Naga Mircha or often called named Raja Mircha - the King Chilli, one of the spiciest in the world was difficult to supply outside the state. But now, local entrepreneurs are successfully selling it as a sauce, which gives Tabasco a run for its money,” he pointed out.
“Turmeric of the Northeast, one of the most potent in the world, can now be purchased in powder form. Pure Naga honey is emerging as a leading organic product of the region. Our entrepreneurs are indeed working hard, sourcing locally, working with fanners, empowering them, building supply chain linkages, increasing their incomes, to try and bring local products to the world.”
For tourism projects, he cited the annual Hornbill festival and the Amur falcon conservation week to attract tourists from around the world. “Naga silk is of the finest qualities having immense potential for international trade. The state is initiating support to local artisans in terms of raw material, skill development, design and marketing support etc. This sector has provided and attracted young fashion entrepreneurs while preserving traditional techniques. Designers from Nagaland are in demand from Kohima to Milan.”
The chief minister was optimistic “that a cohesive effort in areas of sharing ideas, expertise, and logistic support between the government and organisations like those present here today will enable enhancing the capacity of our entrepreneurs and providing them a much-needed platform not only for economic self-reliance, but towards building up a strong local economy that focuses on nurturing talent and promoting creativity.”
Speaking at the summit was also Nadia Rasheed, the regional team leader for HIV and Health, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She hailed Nagaland and the wider Northeast as a region rich in natural, human and cultural capital.
“With this important gateway, the Northeast has unique potential to unlock prosperity and jobs through regional initiatives. This includes for instance the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport project, and the Mekong India Economic Corridor,” she cited.
Despite facing complex challenges, including natural disasters and difficult connectivity, the UNDP representative was proud that the Northeast, compared to other states has the highest number of literate youth hailing from rural areas.
Rasheed urged the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to play a crucial role, acting as a nursery for budding entrepreneurs, and nurturing an efficient and innovative entrepreneurial spirit.
“For the region to achieve its full potential, there will be a need to expand partnerships and economies of scale, including through promoting greater integration of markets in the Northeast region, and forging deeper linkages to Southeast Asian markets,” she encouraged the participants that included local entrepreneurs from different fields.
“At UNDP, we recognise that for the 2030 agenda to be transformative, it must engage young people, and be adapted to local realities. Localising the SDGs means making the aspirations of the SDGs become real to communities, households and individuals, particularly to those who are at risk of falling behind.”
Rasheed, on behalf of the UNDP, extended support to partner with Nagaland to set up an SDG coordination centre, such as the one in Haryana, to propel integration of social and environmental standards within local economic agendas, assist in effectively reducing disparities, foster social cohesion from the bottom up, generate local business opportunities and jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and very importantly, bring women and excluded groups into productive employment.
The first Northeast Summit 2018 is a two-day event organised by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) along with the government of Nagaland and IDAN.
