Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of Planning & Transformation and National Highways, TR Zeliang on Friday called upon Naga youth to look beyond government employment and take advantage of emerging opportunities in the private sector, asserting that skill development and industry partnerships are crucial to addressing Nagaland’s unemployment challenge.

Zeliang was speaking at the inauguration of the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) at the Nagaland Integrated Hub for Skills in Kushiabill, Dimapur.

Describing the centre as more than a training facility, Zeliang said it would serve as a bridge connecting the aspirations of Naga youth with one of India’s fastest-growing sectors—the logistics industry.

He expressed satisfaction that specialised logistics training was being brought to Nagaland, reducing the need for young people to travel to cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata for training and employment opportunities.

“For all the goods that move through Dimapur, very few of our own youth have had the formal training to build careers in the industry that moves them,” he said.

Zeliang said Dimapur has traditionally been Nagaland’s commercial hub and gateway by road and rail, besides being home to the State’s only airport. With the growing importance of the region under the Government of India’s Act East Policy, he said, Dimapur was increasingly becoming a gateway to Southeast Asia.

He pointed out that indigenous and organic products from Nagaland—including Naga King Chilli, kiwi, coffee and bamboo products—move to markets outside the State through the Dimapur corridor. The expansion of logistics-related activities, he said, therefore presents significant opportunities for local youth.

Over 71,000 registered unemployed

Highlighting the seriousness of the unemployment situation, the Deputy Chief Minister said more than 71,000 people are registered as unemployed with the State Employment Exchange, according to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

He said the actual number could exceed one lakh as many unemployed persons may not have registered themselves.

More concerning, he said, was that 92 per cent of registered unemployed persons lack formal technical or vocational training.

“Many are sitting at home with degrees, without a pathway to a livelihood,” Zeliang said, stressing the need to create avenues for employment, skill development and career progression.

He said the logistics and supply chain sector was expected to expand significantly in the coming years and that Nagaland’s youth could benefit if they received appropriate training and professional guidance.

National certification, industry and global placement

Zeliang said the involvement of the Logistics Sector Skill Council, established under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the National Skill Development Corporation would provide youth with industry-oriented training, national certification and access to employment opportunities.

He said Nagaland was joining a national network of logistics training facilities, with Redington Foundation having already established quality training centres in cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad.

The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Logistics Sector Skill Council and J-PAL World Innovative Private Limited for international placement.

The partnership, he said, could enable a young person trained at Chümoukedima to pursue not only employment in major Indian cities but potentially career opportunities on the global stage.

He said training would cover areas including warehousing, supply chain management and logistics technology, giving young people the opportunity to acquire nationally recognised skills.

‘Government jobs alone cannot be the destination’

Zeliang made a strong appeal to Naga youth to reconsider the traditional preference for government employment.

“Employment in the government sector alone should not be the destination or a measure of success in one’s life,” he said, pointing to the State government’s financial constraints arising from its limited own revenue.

He said the government had limited capacity to create additional jobs and noted that Nagaland already had one of the highest proportions of government employment relative to its population among Indian states.

“It is time that we explore ways and means outside the government sector and do not let the discouragement of one closed door make you believe every door is closed,” he said.

Zeliang urged young people undergoing training at COLTE not merely to seek employment but to eventually become trainers themselves and help equip the next generation with skills.

Government promises support and expansion

The Deputy Chief Minister assured that the State government would work with the Logistics Sector Skill Council, Redington Foundation and J-PAL World to ensure that trainees completing programmes at the centre were meaningfully placed in employment.

He said the government would also seek to develop COLTE as a model that could be replicated in other logistics-relevant areas across Nagaland.

“Skilling should not be confined to Dimapur alone but reach out to all other districts in the near future,” he said.

Zeliang congratulated the Logistics Sector Skill Council, Redington Foundation and J-PAL World Innovation for choosing Nagaland as a partner and expressed hope that the collaboration would make a significant contribution towards addressing the State’s unemployment problem.

He also acknowledged the efforts of officials of the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and praised Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer for his role in advancing the department’s initiatives for the State’s youth.

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 ‘Transforming society into a hardworking people’

Zeliang said the inclusion of “Transformation” in his ministerial portfolio reflected the government’s broader objective of bringing about social and economic transformation.

He called for stronger partnerships between the State government, corporate organisations and skill-development institutions to create a more productive and self-reliant society.

He said the collaboration with organisations with a strong presence in India and Asia could open new avenues for Naga youth and contribute to a brighter future for the State.

“Let us work together,” he said, expressing hope that the partnership would go a long way in transforming the lives and livelihoods of the people of Nagaland.

Zeliang formally declared the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence inaugurated and expressed hope that it would become a launch-pad for a generation of skilled, confident and employed Naga youth.

Exchange of Memorandum of Understanding between Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt Ltd for International Placements

Moatoshi stresses employment-focused skill development

Speaking on the occasion as guest of honour, Advisor for Labour, Employment & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Excise, MLA Moatoshi Longkumer stressed the need to make skill development in Nagaland more employment-oriented, saying training should lead to meaningful job opportunities rather than being limited to certification.

Longkumer said the logistics sector was growing rapidly and required trained manpower in transportation, warehousing, supply-chain operations, distribution and related services.

He said the initiative was the outcome of a partnership between the Department of Employment and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Redington Foundation and the Logistics Sector Skill Council, with the MoU signed in March 2026.

According to Longkumer, COLTE is expected to train 360 students annually and focus not only on classroom training but also on upskilling, reskilling, practical training, industry exposure and placement facilitation.

He said the success of skill development programmes should be measured not merely by the number of people trained but by what happens to them afterwards, particularly in terms of employment.

The Advisor said COLTE had the potential to become a link between Nagaland’s youth and industry requirements, adding that continued engagement with employers would be necessary to ensure training remained aligned with market needs.

Longkumer also acknowledged the role of CII Nagaland in bringing the partners together and thanked the Redington Foundation, Logistics Sector Skill Council and CII Nagaland for supporting the initiative.

He expressed hope that COLTE would develop into a strong logistics skills institution for Nagaland and the Northeast and create greater employment opportunities for the region’s youth.

 

COLTE aims to bridge logistics skills and employment in Nagaland

KV Mahidhar, Board Member of the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC), said India’s rapid infrastructure development was creating significant opportunities in the logistics sector and emphasised the need for integrated planning, supportive logistics policies and digital technology to improve cargo movement and strengthen the country’s integration with global supply chains.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) in Nagaland, Mahidhar said India had improved its global logistics ranking from above 50 to the 30s and expressed confidence that the country could eventually enter the top 10.

Referring to the Northeast, he described the region as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and a major area of growth.

Mahidhar said COLTE would help bridge the gap between education and employment by providing practical training in warehousing, inventory management, transport operations and logistics technology.

He urged young people to develop digital skills, obtain industry-recognised certifications and pursue continuous learning, stressing that they should aspire not only to secure jobs but also to create employment opportunities.

A better-connected and competitive Northeast, he said, would require greater cooperation among the Government, industry, educational institutions and youth.

He expressed confidence that Nagaland could emerge as a major source of skilled logistics talent for India and the world, adding that the future of the Northeast was bright and Nagaland’s future even brighter.

COLTE to train 400 youth annually

B Ramaratnam, Independent Director, Redington Limited, in his opening remarks, described the inauguration of COLTE as an important milestone in addressing the growing demand for skilled manpower in the logistics and supply-chain sector.

He said the initiative was the outcome of a public-private partnership involving the Government of Nagaland, Redington Foundation, Logistics Sector Skill Council and CII Institute of Logistics.

Ramaratnam said COLTE had evolved from experiences in Chennai and Hyderabad, with the Nagaland centre designed specifically to address the needs and opportunities of the Northeast.

The centre would focus on industry-oriented, technology-enabled and outcome-driven training, with emphasis on employment and career progression, he said.

Ramaratnam said the initiative aimed to train around 400 unemployed youth from economically weaker sections every year, with at least 20 per cent participation from women and girls.

He said the programme would also create placement opportunities, with starting salaries expected to range from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh per annum.

He expressed hope that COLTE Nagaland would develop into a model for the Northeast by connecting young people with skills, employment and wider opportunities, including potential international placements.

An MoU was also exchanged between the Logistics Sector Skill Council and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt Ltd for international placements.

The formal inauguration was followed by a guided tour of the facilities led by Ravi Yamarthy, Chief Executive Officer, Logistics Sector Skill Council.

The programme concluded with closing remarks by Commissioner and Secretary, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Robert Longchari.