A high-level delegation from the Government of Nagaland, led by Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, is currently on an official visit to Japan to explore strategic partnerships in key sectors including human resource development, investment, technology transfer, and cultural exchange.
The delegation comprises Abu Metha, Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN); Hekani Jakhalu, Advisor for Industries & Commerce; Kumar Ramnikant, Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce; and other senior officials.
Ahead of the Chief Minister’s arrival, teams from IDAN and the Department of Industries & Commerce, led by Abu Metha and Hekani Jakhalu, held a series of high-level meetings in Tokyo on July 4, engaging with key organisations such as Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line); Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF); Konnekt Asia; and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
According to a DIPR report, the meetings focused on identifying collaborative opportunities particularly in the fields of human resource development across sectors such as agriculture and allied services, hospitality, healthcare, tourism, arts and culture, sports, and film.
Highlighting the historic wartime connection between Nagaland and Japan during World War II, Abu Metha stressed the need to transform the painful memories of war into constructive partnerships for peace and cooperation.
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The Sasakawa Peace Foundation shared details about its current engagements in India’s Northeast, with a focus on people-to-people contact, Track Two diplomacy, peacebuilding, and knowledge exchange.
JICA expressed interest in expanding human resource exchange programmes by linking Japanese industry requirements with Indian talent pools. The Chairman of IDAN conveyed appreciation for JICA’s ongoing work in Nagaland and discussed potential areas of further collaboration.
With NYK Line, discussions centred on the company’s contributions to Nagaland and the scope for expanding engagements, particularly in the services and hospitality sector, to generate employment and capacity-building opportunities for the youth.
The delegation also visited Kochi Prefecture, where detailed deliberations were held on joint initiatives related to human resource development, skill enhancement, capacity building, and technology transfer in sectors such as food processing, agriculture, and allied industries. The teams explored the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Nagaland and the Government of Kochi, a Japanese Prefecture.
The delegation presented Nagaland’s new Industrial Policy, which offers investment-friendly incentives and encourages responsible business practices. The State’s high literacy rate, English proficiency, and cultural richness were showcased as strategic advantages for attracting Japanese collaboration.
These exploratory meetings serve as a foundation for the official engagements scheduled during the Chief Minister’s visit to Japan, where the discussions are expected to be further consolidated and formalised.
