DIMAPUR: Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Tuesday inaugurated the Made in Nagaland Centre at YouthNet, 5th Mile, Chümoukedima.
Established by YouthNet, the Centre aims to provide a dedicated platform for locally made products and support entrepreneurs in expanding their reach and market opportunities.
According to a DIPR report, speaking as special guest, the Governor said the Centre represented an important step towards creating an ecosystem where Nagaland’s creativity, enterprise, traditional skills and cultural wealth could find markets and sustainable economic value. He noted that indigenous crafts, textiles, agricultural products, food traditions and artistic expressions could become sustainable sources of livelihood when supported with proper market access.
Appreciating YouthNet’s initiative, Yadav said Made in Nagaland was conceived to bridge the gap between local producers and larger markets. He recalled that the first one stop platform was launched in 2018 with 81 entrepreneurs and had now grown to around 350 entrepreneurs and 600 products from across Nagaland.
The Governor stressed the significance of the initiative for youth, women, MSMEs and rural communities, urging young people to become job creators rather than job seekers. He emphasised the need for skills, finance, mentoring, technology, branding, packaging, digital marketing, market intelligence and access to markets. He also underlined the importance of preserving cultural heritage by ensuring traditional skills remained economically viable.
Yadav said the label “Made in Nagaland” should be associated with authenticity, quality, innovation, sustainability and trust. He encouraged stakeholders to focus on quality control, standardisation, packaging, branding, product consistency, supply chains and digital commerce so that local products could compete beyond the state.
Observing that Chümoukedima, being close to Dimapur, was well placed to showcase Nagaland’s entrepreneurial potential, he said the Centre could serve not merely as a retail outlet but as a meeting point between producers and consumers, rural enterprises and urban markets, and traditional knowledge and contemporary design. He called for greater collaboration among government departments, financial institutions, educational institutions, private enterprises, civil society and organisations such as YouthNet.
The Governor expressed hope that Made in Nagaland should grow from a platform into a movement and become an engine of inclusive growth, with local talent finding opportunities, products reaching national and international markets, and traditions securing a sustainable future.
Advisor, Industries & Commerce and founder of YouthNet, Hekani Jakhalu, shared the journey behind the initiative, recalling that YouthNet was established in 2006 to encourage youth towards entrepreneurship. She said the first Centre was launched in Kohima in 2018 and the Chümoukedima centre marked the third such initiative. She highlighted the importance of infrastructure, access to finance through the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme, and support in branding and packaging to enable entrepreneurs to reach wider markets.
Advisor to the Chief Minister and chairman, IDAN, Abu Metha, congratulated YouthNet for its impact in creating employment opportunities and providing market access. He said YouthNet had emerged as an ambassador of the aspirations of Nagaland and was working closely with government departments to empower youth. Metha also highlighted Nagaland’s contributions to the nation and noted that the State Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to review and withdraw the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime to promote tourism and strengthen the creative economy.
Earlier, Nuneseno Chase, director and chief functionary, YouthNet, delivered the welcome address. Following the programme, the Governor toured the Centre and Training Institute.
The event was attended by advisor, Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Zhaleo Rio; advisor, Social Welfare, Wangpang Konyak; Benei M. Lamthiu MLA; officials from the district administration, YouthNet members, entrepreneurs and other dignitaries.
