Commissioner and Secretary, Industries & Commerce Nagaland, Kekhrievor Kevichusa, IPoS while speaking on Investment Opportunities in Nagaland, said the Government of Nagaland has taken efforts to encourage private entrepreneurs to grow and also explained that though Nagaland have many problems and hurtles the state does not lack the opportunity to grow to promote local entrepreneurs and be connected with the experts in business that will grow into partnerships, and having  with solutions to problems. Therefore he called upon the investors to be interested towards the state as the state need the private economic to grow.

Senior Advisor (NE and UTs), CII, Brig. Ashis Bhattacharyya in his speech highlighted that CII has recognizes Start-ups as the engine of economic growth which is a robust framework at the National, Regional and State Levels to promote Innovation and support Start-ups. He also said CII and the Industries Department of Nagaland, have signed up and MOU for partnering with each other offering not only Startup pitch sessions but a bouquet of offerings for the overall development of the entire startup ecosystem in the state and added that CII is a not for profit Industry association but works closely with the Government and the industry for the overall development of the country through improving trade and commerce both in the domestic and through international connect that serves through 62 country wide offices and 8 International offices. As part of the Nagaland CSR Conclave, Brig. Ashis Bhattacharyya said it was good to engage the startup programme of Nagaland through initiative for NER and Bangladesh connect to work towards 10 Startups exchange programs. He also explained that CII also runs Startupreneur Awards instituted in 2018 that recognizes for their excellence in cutting-edge technology and innovation, wealth creation, and employment generation and the CII Startup Mentor Club also support entrepreneurs and their company’s growth through targeted interventions by assessing their needs and matching them with Industry members who are seasoned entrepreneurs, executives and functional experts across different Sectors.

Director Industries and Commerce, Nagaland Vitsutho Nyuthespeaking on ” Roadmap for development of Industries in Nagaland” said Nagaland presents a unique set of opportunities owing to its historical geographical challenges but  lots of improvements have been made in the past few years across all developmental centers and economic activities has been improved. He said that the government of Nagaland is committed to foster industrial development, leveraging the state’s unique resources and human capital. Nyuthe brought forward some objectives to carry forward the road map for development of Industries in Nagaland such as, promote and nurture the cultural entrepreneurship and give support to the startup program, generate employment by facilitating the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, promote cluster development and foster production, marketing and sourcing of raw materials. He also said we need to create a conductive investment and business environment through ease of doing business initiatives and to work towards the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal by bringing a balanced socio- economic and environmental development. Nyuthe said Startup initiative needs to be accelerated so that large scale so that it will open up opportunities for employment.

Nyuthe further some areas were identified to take industrialization forward like food processing industries, tourism industry and hospitality, agro based industries, mineral based industries textile industries, Electronic and IT, bamboo processing and manufacturing industries, medicinal & aromatic plants l, renewal energy, waste management, hydro power and Health and Wellness.

He also said that various undertakings  were made by the State Government for industrialization in the State like support for  entrepreneurial ventures through State  Startups Policy and State Industrial Policy,  Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre were established in Dimapur and an extension centre in Kiphire, establishment of Industrial Growth Centre at Ganeshnagar, Industrial Infrastructure Development Centre at Kiruphema, Industrial Park at Tuli, Old and New Industrial Estate at Dimapur.

He said that the government has taken the initiative of identifying and development of Border Trade Centres which promotes trade with South – East ASEAN countries. Nyuthe also said that cluster development projects like handloom, textile products, food processing, wood based industry have been taken up.

Arnab Chakrabortty, National Director, Empretec India Foundation speaking on “Entrepreneurship for Sustinable Development for Nagaland” said that High Impact Entrepreneurs from Emerging Regions for Action (HiEERA)  promotes  community and value chain development, and it helps in mentoring of programs, help in decision making, business planning and reporting of selected delegation. He said that  Empretec provides entrepreneurship development and business linkages to government and government agencies, banks and also  trains entrepreneurs in capacity building, skill building.

Dr. Rene Van Berkel, UNIDO Representative & Head, India mentioned that there should be an application of cleaner production, eco-efficiency and industrial ecology practices and techniques in a wide range of industry sectors, including manufacturing, minerals, agriculture, food and beverages, health and services and crafts. For Capacities and Ecosystem for Absorb (Industrial) Investments in Nagaland, modern industrial policy should be fostered and facilitated for industrial growth and diversification. There should be an integrated value chain development to realize the potential of priority/trust sectors and entrepreneurial ecosystem should be created in order to look into competencies of firms and economic units. He asked the entrepreneurs to focus on culture, heritage and horticulture sects of the State.

Kenei Theunuo, Team Leader, Startup Nagaland said that Nagaland Start-up Policy aims to establish the State as a model Start-up leader in the region, by creating a culture of entrepreneurship that nurtures creative and innovative youth, allowing them to build successful companies, become job creators and contribute towards building a sustainable economy. The objective was to facilitate growth of start-up per District, to inculcate and stimulate a culture of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship by creating an environment for learning and experimentation during all stages of education, and to achieve creation of direct and indirect employment in private sectors. She further said that after the launch of the Startup Nagaland portal, 31 startups have been registered till date. Special efforts have been made to encourage and promote women led Startups in the State. Kenei also said that MoUs on mutually agreed projects and identification of funding schemes with the Indian Navy with the vision to promote indigenization are also in progress.

Dr. Geetima Das Krishna, Head NE Desk, from Invest India mentioned that Invest Promotion Agency (IPA) is mostly a government agency which is under the Ministry of Commerce. The basic role that IPA plays is that it acts as a bridge between the government and the private sector. They promote states by introducing investors with the local entrepreneurs by creating awareness about particular location as an attractive destination for investment.

Das also said that Invest India is also the executive arm of Making India Initiative of GOI. From supporting India’s expanding start-up ecosystem to harnessing the power of innovation and bringing them to the market and deploying technologies on ground, Invest India covers a wide range of the country’s transformational business sector. She also mentioned that each states have their own IPA. Representing the North East sector of Invest India, Das and her team works with the four core functions of IPA: image building, investment generation, project management and aftercare services to promote the North Eastern States through summits, road shows, organising CSR conclaves and in Nagaland, this is being achieved through the help of IDAN.

Das also said that Invest India team helped Nagaland to build and integrate into Single Window System and Nagaland is the first State in the North East to integrate into this system. The different types of engagements with the State are the Start-ups through the organisations present at the program, and also skill development initiatives in the IT by working with IDAN to help in the increase of employment rate. She also mentioned that IDAN is the IPA agency of Nagaland.

The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is aimed to select, brand and promote One Product from each District of the country and they’re trying to encourage textile and handloom sectors in the state.

Short presentations on Projects Identified for investments in Nagaland were presented by; Viyelo Duolo on Tourist Lodge, Kohima upgradation, Tovi Chopi on Engineering Composite materials from waste banana pseudo stem, Visesato Mor on Plant micro- propagation and development of synthetic seeds, Darlando Khating on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) Farming, Kekhriezavi Lea on Mini Cement Plant and Onongoto Soleho on STEM: Robotics lab equipment.

Pitch presentation by Startups were given by the following:

1. Aboriginal Energy Pvt Ltd
2. Zeliang CodeTech Pvt Ltd
3. Runway Nagaland
4. Autocion
5. Land of Angh Adventures Group (LAAG)
6. NagaEd
7. ilandlo Services Pvt Ltd
8. Jome Foods Pvt Ltd
9. Online Express Nagaland
10. Sanang Eduservice LLP
11. Modern Myriad Branding Pvt.Ltd
12. Grandpa’s Pickle Co.
13. Z’s health food
14. Saucy Joe’s
15. Ahibo LLP
16. NE Health Services
17. Dimapur Disposables
18. One Naga Construction Pvt. Ltd

Principal Secretary, IT&C, K.D. Vizo in his concluding  remarks said that in 2016 Government of India launched the “Startup India” with the objective to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and Startups, and as such seeing the potential of entrepreneurial strength of the Naga youth, the State Government has made the Department of  Industries and Commerce  as the nodal department to initiate Startup Program and implement Policy which ensures exchange of knowledge, capacity building and gives access to fundings.

He appealed to the industrialists and investors to invest in the Startups and give their expertise opinions and mentor the Startups projects.

He said that Nagaland had a huge market with rapid growth and untapped opportunities in every sector, and an investment and Startup Pitch programs like today will open opportunities to the youths to meet investors.