Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on Thursday called for converting Nagaland’s rich potential in agriculture, horticulture, tourism, music, arts, culture, sports and emerging sectors into concrete economic opportunities through enterprise, investment, markets and exports.
Rio was speaking at the launch of the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme Nagaland (CMFPN) and the NEDFi-TEDF research project titled “Strategic Interventions for Endogenous Development through Export Promotion of Niche Agricultural Products, Advancement in the Creative Economy, and Diversification of Investment in Nagaland” at the CMRC Conference Hall, Kohima.
The two initiatives were launched under the initiative of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in collaboration with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi). The research was initiated in January 2025 with financial and technical support under NEDFi’s Techno Economic Development Fund.
Rio said the initiatives shared a common purpose of identifying Nagaland’s strengths and capacities, understanding emerging opportunities and challenges, and preparing the State for the future. He said Nagaland has immense potential in agriculture and horticulture, tourism, music, arts, culture, sports and several emerging sectors.
Emphasising the need to translate potential into economic opportunities through enterprise, investment, markets and exports, he said the focus must ultimately be on creating employment and improving livelihoods.
Welcoming the research focus on the creative economy, Rio said Nagaland had artists, musicians, designers, sportspersons, entrepreneurs and young innovators with immense talent. The creative economy, he noted, was not limited to culture and entertainment but encompassed livelihoods, enterprise, tourism, technology and employment.
He said the State’s efforts to create, brand and promote Nagaland, using its culture and creativity as instruments of economic growth, were important, adding that culture could serve as a bridge between local identity and national and global platforms.
On the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme Nagaland (CMFPN), Rio described it as an investment in human resources and in young people who could contribute to Nagaland’s future. Addressing the 18 selected fellows, he urged them to use the opportunity to gain meaningful exposure and interact with policymakers, administrators, professionals and development experts.
The Chief Minister stressed that the fellowship should go beyond completing assignments and receiving certificates, and encouraged the fellows to carry forward the knowledge, experience and networks gained through the programme.
Rio said the State aimed to build a more resilient, innovative and investment-ready Nagaland where resources, people and ideas could create opportunities, entrepreneurship and innovation could be supported, and private enterprise could work alongside public investment.
He also underscored the importance of partnerships with private and educational institutions, civil society, development organisations and partners across India and the world, while remaining rooted in Nagaland’s identity, values and traditions.
Rio appreciated the efforts of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland, NEDFi and all institutions and individuals involved in bringing the research studies and fellowship programme to fruition. He expressed hope that the research would inform policy, encourage discussion and lead to action, while the fellows would carry forward the experiences, networks and knowledge gained during the programme and find ways to give back to the people.
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Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of IDAN, Abu Metha, said the research undertaken in partnership with NEDFi covered all 17 districts, nearly 300 villages and more than 8,000 inputs. The study brought together grassroots perspectives, data and insights from experts, academics, development practitioners, government officials and other stakeholders.
Metha said the research identified strengths in agriculture, horticulture, textiles, human capital and the creative economy, while also highlighting gaps in value addition, market linkages and promotion. He expressed hope that the findings would move beyond documentation and contribute to policy formulation, strategic planning and concrete action.
Metha also highlighted the study’s focus on Nagaland’s creative economy, covering music, art, sports, tourism, textiles, handicrafts, handlooms and events. He said the State has placed considerable emphasis on the sector and that Nagaland’s approach has attracted interest from other states and international partners.
On CMFPN, Metha said the programme was inspired by his experience with the International Visitor Leadership Programme of the US Department of State in 2014, which demonstrated the value of exposure to global networks, best practices, governance and policy approaches.
He said the 18 fellows, selected through an open application and interview process, would receive exposure to government institutions, NGOs and international missions, along with mentorship from senior leaders, bureaucrats and technocrats. They would also undertake assignments and internships with government departments and institutions, gaining practical exposure to sectors including agriculture, MSMEs, industry, tourism, sports and the Hornbill Festival.
Metha said the objective was to equip the fellows with knowledge, experience and networks so they could contribute meaningfully to society and become assets to Nagaland. He urged them to make full use of the opportunity, saying, “knowledge and experience gained by one should be knowledge and experience gained by all.”
The CMFPN was first proposed in 2024 and received an allocation of ₹2.50 crore in the State Budget 2025-26. The programme is implemented by IDAN and is aimed at providing young professionals with practical exposure to governance, public policy and development processes. The programme has also been described by the State as a platform for research, evidence-based policymaking and field engagement.
The programme was chaired by Under Secretary, IDAN, I. Changsang, NCS, while Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland Vineet Kumar, IAS, proposed the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, NEDFi, IDAN, researchers, experts, officers and stakeholders for their contribution towards the initiatives.
