Kohima, Sep 24 Nagaland needs to convert its potential in agriculture, tourism, arts, culture, sports and emerging sectors into economic opportunities through enterprise, investment, markets and exports, particularly to generate employment, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said on Thursday.
Rio was speaking after launching the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme, Nagaland (CMFPN) and the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. – Techno-Economic Development Fund (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 here.
The initiatives were launched under the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in collaboration with NEDFi.
Rio said the programme aims to identify the state’s strengths, understand emerging opportunities and challenges, and prepare the state for the future.
Welcoming the focus on the creative economy, he said Nagaland has artists, musicians, designers, sportspersons, entrepreneurs and young innovators with immense talent.
The creative economy, he said, is not only about culture and entertainment but also about livelihoods, enterprise, tourism, technology and employment.
He stressed the importance of creating, branding and promoting Nagaland while using its culture and creativity as instruments of economic growth.
Rio described the programme as an investment in human resources and in developing young people who can contribute to the state in the years ahead.
Addressing the 18 selected fellows, he encouraged them to gain meaningful exposure and interact with policymakers, administrators, professionals and development experts, stressing that the fellowship should go beyond completing assignments and receiving certificates.
He said the state aims to build a more resilient, innovative and investment-ready Nagaland where resources, people and ideas create opportunities, entrepreneurship and innovation are supported, and private enterprise works alongside public investment.
Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman, IDAN, Abu Metha said IDAN, in partnership with NEDFi, had undertaken an extensive grassroots study covering all 17 districts, nearly 300 villages and more than 8,000 inputs.
The study brought together grassroots perspectives and data with inputs from experts, academics, development practitioners, government officials and other stakeholders.
It identified strengths in agriculture, horticulture, textiles, human capital and the creative economy, while also highlighting gaps in value addition, market linkages and promotion.
Metha said the research should go beyond documentation and contribute to policy formulation, strategic planning and concrete action.
The 18 fellows, selected through an open application and interview process, will receive exposures to government institutions, NGOs and international missions, besides mentorship from senior leaders, bureaucrats and technocrats.
They will also undertake assignments and internships with government departments and institutions, gaining practical exposure to flagship programmes and sectors including agriculture, MSMEs, industry, tourism, sports and the Hornbill Festival.
The CMFPN, implemented by IDAN, was first proposed in 2024 and received an allocation of Rs 2.50 crore in the State Budget 2025-26, he said, adding that it aims to provide young professionals with practical exposure to governance, public policy and development processes and opportunities to contribute their knowledge and skills to the development of the state.
(PTI News)
