We’re here for you, Rio tells Mon’s ‘international trade fair’

[caption id="attachment_226984" align="alignleft" width="300"] Neiphiu Rio addresses the inaugural programme of the Mon
International Trade Fair in Mon on January 7.[/caption] Dimapur, Jan. 9 (EMN): The chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio has assured the trade and commerce sector in Nagaland that the government has been ‘trying’ to promote growth of the region’s trade and business as facilitator and support. The chief minister inaugurated the Mon International Trade Fair and Expo on January 7 at Mon’s local ground. According to a Wednesday update from the government bulletin DIPR, the event has the slogan “exploring new market opportunities and expanding sales network.” In his address to the inaugural function, Rio said trade events give opportunities to entrepreneurs and manufacturers to showcase their products to prospective customers. Mon is an important and strategic district of Nagaland. It has boundaries with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. The district is known for being the land of ‘Anghs’ (tribal chiefs) as well as unique handicrafts and art forms. The chief minister maintained that the trade event would offer opportunities to youths and entrepreneurs alike to showcase their products ‘to attract investors willing to take our organic products and handicrafts.’ ‘This trade fair and expo will help entrepreneurs of the district to have opportunities which will help in building partnership and access network,’ he said. ‘There is no shortage of natural resources in Nagaland provided we go for exploration. And we also hold rich promises for export of crops like coffee, cardamom, peppers and spices,’ the DIPR quoted him as having said. Rio called the Northeast region a rich bio-diversity hotspot that is also endowed with ‘rare medicinal plants’ and herbs that he said should be explored. He mentioned that the Nagaland government was ‘trying to promote growth of trade and business as facilitators, support and to maintain peaceful atmosphere.’ It is heartening and commendable that the trade fair is being held in Mon ‘which is outside the usual venues of Dimapur and Kohima,’ he said. Calling the development a beginning, Rio appreciated the district administration of Mon and the organisers. Rio exhorted the gathering to ‘start banking culture to get loans from the bank for business, farming and entrepreneurs for business.’ The trade event will continue till January 17. It is being organised by the district administration of Mon in collaboration with the Nagaland Handloom & Handicraft Promotion Council, the DIPR added.