Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 28 (EMN): People of Nagaland have forgotten their origin in the process of imitating others, lamented Dr. Aotoshi, Pro Vice Chairman of Delhi Public School, and urged the people to be proud of whatever they have as it is easier to learn with what they possess rather than copying others.
He was addressing the 7th edition of E-Naga summit 2021 on Tuesday organised by the department of Information Technology and Communication, which was held on the theme 'towards promotion of international trade through information technology'.
Aotoshi, who is also the Chairman of Echahaba Tea Growers' Cooperative Society Ltd. and Advisor of Business Association of Nagaland, stated that ‘of late, use of plastics replaced banana leaves which were used by earlier generations to wrap food and vegetables.
'All kinds of super food are being produced from Nagaland but we try to replicate products which are produced elsewhere that are not suitable to our land', he said.
The chairman went on to add: 'We say we are organic by default. But we copied others and turned it topsy-turvy'.
Opt for natural cultivation and do research on how forefathers used to cultivate. Focus and take advantage of whatever one already has and capitalise them, he encouraged.
Speaking on the theme, he observed that the state is not at par with the rest of the world in terms of international trade. One of the primary reasons, he observed, is that people "feel insecure" about themselves.
Citing instances, he said that 'when outsiders come to Hornbill Festival, we rush around to serve our guests with chow and momo etc. Because we feel uncomfortable that people won't like axone'.
Information technology has become an important means and tool for trading. With IT, things have changed dramatically and this has created an opportunity to showcase what the state has. Even a leaf available with us is in demand which we don't know', he said and suggested young people look at these advantages.
Unless one has a product in the form of goods or services, the information and technology is meaningless, he added.
President of Indian Chamber of International Business, Manpreet Singh observed that international trade is all about people-to-people contact. He encouraged the people to travel around and become a part of the opportunities that the government is offering.
‘Nagaland has a lot of products suitable for export. It is also very well connected in terms of transportation today. All that needs to be done is to ensure that trades are being made with people across the world for which entrepreneurs need to approach people and do business. It's all about how you package yourself and put yourself out there’, Singh observed.
He encouraged taking advantage of information technology by setting up their own websites, engaging in trade using mobile phones etc.
'Everything is online today. IT has transformed lives', he added and encouraged to start small and grow big. IT is the key growth factor through which one can make themselves known to the other parts of the world.
‘Nagaland has an opportunity within its own diaspora which they do not utilise. Give them the opportunity, teach them how to do it’, he said.
He also recommended universities in NE to tie up with universities across the world in the field of research.
Approach foreign organisations as that will give empowerment socially and economically, he said.
CEO of Ramietech, Kedo Nagi while citing government data informed that there are 1.3 lakh govt. employees in Nagaland, 84000 applicants to various educational institutions, and 275 MSME registered in Nagaland.
There is a need for enterprises in Nagaland to boost the state economy. One of the systems for promotion of trade through IT would be e-commerce, which is fairly doing well in Nagaland, he said and suggested areas for improvement in e-commerce in Nagaland.
Additional Director of Information Technology and Communication, Sabou also said that information technology and trade are related and go hand-in-hand. Applying these two can improve the economy of the state, he added.