Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio pointed out that Nagaland has high potential in developing floriculture business which would boost the state’s economy in a big way. He said this while officially inaugurating the ‘Bloom Bazaar’ initiated by Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) at the Heritage, Officers colony, here Friday.
While rooting for floriculture business, Rio noted that local flower growers have benefitted from the experience of several other flower growers from the state who have brought not only experience but also laurels to the state from exposure to international flower arrangement competitions.
Rio said guests from abroad who visited the state always remarked that the flower arrangements were exceptional the likes of which were not seen elsewhere. Sharing his experiences, the chief minister admitted that even he had not seen flower arrangements in other countries even though other countries had more flower varieties.
He said India has 13% market share in floriculture and therefore if Nagaland could also grow good quality flowers at the right seasons, then it would immensely boost the state’s economy and benefit not just the growers but even the users as well. Rio also expressed happiness that bankers have also come forward to extend loans to flower growers.
Rio said flowers were used for decoration in almost all events and were also a pleasant sight even in churches.
He lauded womenfolk for doing well in floriculture sector and encouraged them to continue to grow bigger.
He thanked the financial institutions and expressed the hope that they would continue to support such entrepreneurs even in the future as more people come forward to avail the opportunity. Rio said starting a new venture required capital and urged upon entrepreneurs to seek help from banks. He said many people in the society want to start their own business but do not have the resources to do it. In this regard, Rio mentioned that Nagas do not have bank culture and therefore there was need to build up good relations with the bank in order to avail resources.
In order to promote bank culture, Rio said the government has introduced paying of salary, scholarship and benefits through the banks. He said once a robust relationship was built with banks, then anyone could approach banks to avail loans provided they had viable projects.
Rio also recalled that he was also a businessman before becoming a politician and since then, continued his relationship with banks till today. He expressed gratitude to three banks – Bank of Baroda, North East Small Finance Bank and Rural Bank for coming forward to help the flower growers.
He urged upon the banks to be partners not with only flower growers but also with others who were taking up various enterprises. He also urged upon the entrepreneurs to undergo some orientation in order to make the process of availing loans easier.
Rio informed that the government was coming up with various ways to facilitate and assist entrepreneurs with loans and similar schemes. He pointed out that CM Micro Finance Scheme was there to help entrepreneurs start their business.
Earlier the chief minister handed out the cheques to the 12 beneficiaries who were selected for the loans that were ten from North East Small Finance Bank and one each from Bank of Baroda and Rural Bank.
Earlier the inaugural was chaired by Neingulie Nakhro, while welcome address and introductory note was delivered by chairman, IDAN, Abu Metha.
Joint Secretary, IDAN, Rent Wilfred, IAS offered the welcome speech while vote of thanks was proposed by under secretary IDAN, I Changsang. Bloom Bazaar will be held every Friday and Saturday for 30 weeks.