Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 11 (NPN): State deputy chief minister TR Zeliang on Friday urged Naga youth to look beyond government employment and explore emerging opportunities in the private sector, particularly in logistics and supply chain management.
Zeliang was speaking at the inauguration of the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) at the Nagaland Integrated Hub for Skills at Kushiabill, Dimapur.
Highlighting the state’s unemployment situation, Zeliang said more than 71,000 people were registered as unemployed with employment exchanges, citing a directorate of economics and statistics survey on employment, unemployment and skills. He said the actual number could exceed 100,000 as many unemployed people may not have registered.
He further said 92% of registered unemployed lacked formal technical or vocational training, leaving many degree holders without a clear pathway to employment.
Zeliang described COLTE as a bridge between Naga youth and one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors. He said Dimapur, as Nagaland’s commercial gateway with road, rail and air connectivity, was well positioned to benefit from growth in logistics.
He noted that Naga products, including king chilli, kiwi, coffee and bamboo products, were transported to markets outside the state through the Dimapur corridor.
However, he said relatively few Naga youth had received formal training to build careers in the sector facilitating the movement of such goods.
COLTE has been established through a partnership involving the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC), Redington Foundation and the state government. It will provide industry-oriented training, national certification and industry linkages.
Zeliang said the centre was the first of its kind in Nagaland and the Northeast, adding that Redington Ltd. had established similar centres in cities including Chennai and Hyderabad.
He also highlighted a memorandum of understanding between LSC and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt. Ltd. for international placements, saying it could open employment opportunities for COLTE trainees in metropolitan cities and abroad.
Zeliang said the state government would work with LSC, Redington Foundation and Zipaworld to ensure trainees secured employment and expressed hope that the model could eventually be replicated in other logistics-relevant areas of the state.
Urging youth not to regard government employment as the sole measure of success, he said the state government faced financial pressure because of limited own-source revenue and had limited capacity to absorb more job seekers. “Employment in the government sector alone should not be the destination or a measure of success in one’s life,” Zeliang said, urging youth to explore opportunities outside the government sector.
He also urged trainees to make full use of the facility and turn it into a platform for career opportunities.
Advisor for labour and employment, skill development and entrepreneurship, and excise Moatoshi Longkumer said the inauguration marked the implementation of an agreement signed between the Department of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Redington Foundation and LSC in Kohima on March 31, 2026.
Longkumer said Redington Foundation was supporting the project through its corporate social responsibility commitment, while the state government was providing space and administrative support, including candidate mobilisation.
He stressed that the success of skill development should not be measured merely by the number of people trained or certificates issued, but by whether trainees ultimately secure employment.
Under the agreement, COLTE is expected to train 360 students annually, with a minimum placement rate of 75%, and operate for at least three years. Longkumer expressed hope that the centre would continue beyond the initial period.
He said the centre would also undertake upskilling and reskilling, industry visits, practical training, training of trainers, placement facilitation, specialised industry programmes and coordination with existing training institutions.
Longkumer said these components could enable COLTE to serve not only as a training institution but also as a link between young people and industry requirements. He added the state government would monitor the partnership based on access, training quality and employment outcomes.
He also acknowledged CII Nagaland for facilitating the project by introducing Redington Foundation and LSC and bringing the organisations together.
Longkumer expressed hope that COLTE would develop into a strong logistics skills institution for the Northeast and that the partnership would produce measurable employment outcomes.
Earlier, dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev C Lima, welcome address was delivered by LSC, Ravikanth Yamarthy, overview of Logistic Sector in India by board member, LSC, KV Mahidar, opening remarks by Redington Limited Independent Director, B Ramaratnam, and vote of thanks by commissioner and secretary, labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Robert Longchari.
The inauguration ceremony also witnessed signing of MoU between LSC and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt Ltd for international placements.