The second edition of the Nagaland International Trade Expo (NITex) began on Thursday at Senden Riju, Purana Bazaar, near ISBT, marking the beginning of a five-day extravaganza. Organized by the Business Association of Nagas (BAN) and supported by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), National SC-ST Hub, and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the inaugural day witnessed captivating live demonstrations, including chainsaw woodcarving, artwork by a specially abled child, FRP Art, and loinloom weaving.
Attendees also engaged with expo traders, exploring a spectrum of industries. The expo is set to run from January 18 to 22.
Chairman DPDB Tseminyu, Jwenga Seb, MLA was the special guest for the first day, who inaugurated PREFAB shelters, a prefabricated building system offering versatile applications as rooms or storage spaces. Noteworthy for their quick set up, the units are reported to provide cooler temperatures in summers, warmth in winters, and boast a remarkable 24-hour easy installation and dismantling capability.
Addressing the gathering after inspecting the expo, Seb, a former executive member of BAN, said he was honoured for being the special guest on the first day of the 2nd edition of NITex.
Seb emphasized on the expo’s role in fostering collaboration and networking, highlighting its significance as a platform for market linkages, local entrepreneur promotion, and economic upliftment. He further stressed on the need for Nagaland to prioritize local production, particularly in agriculture and tourism, urging discussions in panel sessions by resourceful panelists.
Expressing concern over the state’s heavy reliance on imports, Seb urged the exploration of Nagaland’s natural resources and fertile land for self-sufficiency and called for a focus on manufacturing sector to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on external sources.
To attract investments and stimulate economic growth, he underscored on the importance of enduring partnerships with corporate entities that recognize the state’s untapped potential and further advocated for promotion of eco-tourism to harness state’s biodiversity and scenic beauty, which would create revenue and employment opportunities.
In the quest for ambitious goals, Seb called for robust support from commercial banks, recognizing access to finance as vital for business growth. He also stressed on the crucial partnership between the government and business community, terming entrepreneurs as the driving force and government as the guiding hand for progress.
Seb later congratulated BAN for flawlessly organizing the event and commended the live skill displays and performances as brilliant showcase of youth talents. He expressed confidence that the Expo would serve as a catalyst for economic growth, collaboration, and innovation, urging attendees to seize the opportunity to build a prosperous and self-reliant Nagaland, contributing to the nation’s development.
He also acknowledged National ST-SC hub, the National Small Industries Corporation, and Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) for their unwavering support. It may be noted that Union Minister for MSME, Narayan Rane will officially inaugurate the expo on January 19, while a host of legislators would also grace the five-day expo.