After a gap of more than six years, the second edition of Nagaland International Trade Expo is set to commence at Senden Riju, Purana Bazaar, near ISBT here on Thursday. Organised by the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) and supported by National Small Industries Corporation, National SC-ST Hub, and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the expo is scheduled from January 18 to 22. This was announced by BAN president L Mongkhum Jamir at a press conference on Wednesday.
Sharing insights into the significance of the expo, he claimed that the event served as a pivotal platform, bringing together businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators from diverse sectors to showcase their products and services. He reiterated the expo’s commitment to fostering Naga entrepreneurship, highlighting the need for identifying and promoting value proposition of local businesses.
Simultaneously, he also underscored the expo’s role in assisting the state government in developing necessary infrastructure for these entrepreneurs.
Acknowledging existing infrastructural gaps in the state, Jamir stressed creating both new facilities, and optimizing existing ones. The primary objective of the expo, he maintained, was to provide entrepreneurs with a platform for networking, collaboration, market linkages, research opportunities, and exposure.
Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the government and private sector, he further stressed collaboration, maintaining that both the private and government sector could not do away with each other.
Providing a glimpse into the day-to-day schedule, he outlined various activities, including live crafting performances on wood, stone, and fibre, as well as a special showcase featuring a specially-abled child creating beautiful paintings.
With regard to the venue, he informed newsmen that the venue was allotted free by Ao Senso Telongjem, Dimapur, pointing out that the venue was centrally located in Dimapur with easy accessibility.
He also informed that Union minister for MSME, Narayan Rane will officially inaugurate the expo on January 19 while host of legislators will also grace the five-day expo.
Meanwhile, Industries and Commerce director A Temjen Jamir, who too was present, informed the media on the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Scheme, adding that the scheme covering 13 districts in the state aimed to benefit the state by providing loans and tools worth Rs 15,000.
He said the department had already received 3,152 applications from across the state, of which 981 were from Mon.
He however clarified that any individual with one or more family members working for the state government would not be able to avail the scheme
He said awareness programme on the scheme would be held on January 19 and 20, requesting all interested candidates to avail necessary knowledge on the scheme at the programme, and register themselves for the scheme at the expo.
In his address, NSIC zonal general manager Vijay Prakash dwelled on the National SC-ST Hub scheme under the ministry of MSME. He said the NSIC helped units from registration, to raw materials assistance, bank facilities, product support, assistance in finance for raw materials and marketing through both online and offline mode.
He mentioned that NSIC would have a stall at the expo where any interested individual could come and gather knowledge on the scheme.
BAN vice-president (international) Dr Yan Murry stated that a panel session on startups was scheduled on January 19 in collaboration with the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).
He said the expo would also feature expert panel discussions on tourism and logistics on January 19 and 20.
It was informed by the organisers that the expo would have around 140 stalls for different sectors, including service sector, agri and allied, auto mobiles, etc, whilst three international brands from Japan, Bangladesh and Germany would take part.