Abu Metha along with other official from IDAN addressing a press conference at The Heritage, Kohima on September 28. (DIPR Photo)
Morung Express news
Kohima | September 28
With a vision to upscale, improve and enhance the booming flower industry in the state, the weekend Bloom Bazaar 2023 is all set to begin tomorrow in Kohima at The Heritage. The main focus of the event is to promote the flower industry and support the state floriculture entrepreneurs, and also create space for other entrepreneurs and sections, to come and participate and show the best of what Nagaland have.
This permanent weekend bazaar is an initiative undertaken by the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on Saturday.
Advisor to Chief Minister of Nagaland and Chairperson of IDAN, Abu Metha while addressing a press conference today here in Kohima, opined that as far as the business community and entrepreneurship in the state of Nagaland is concerned, an important stakeholder which is somehow not coming to the centre of the discussion is the floriculture industry although there is a booming flower growing culture in the state.
“Nagas love flowers and it an inherent quality that Nagas have especially women have passion for growing flowers. In this context, to upscale, improve and enhance the flower industry in the state where they can find a permanent space to expand promote and sell their products in a organized sector, the initiative have been initiated,” he informed media persons.
After the launching, it will take place every weekend, i.e. every Friday and Saturday from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm for 30 weekends or for a year.
It will feature 15 governmental departments from agri and allied, horticulture, bamboo mission and honey mission, industries and commerce among others will be participating here. Apart from that 45 private stalls will sell flower, food, jewellery, fashion, merchandise and stalls for children.
The chairperson added that the Bloom Bazaar is mainly to promote the flower industry but will have space for other entrepreneurs to come and participate.
According to Metha, this initiative is not only targeted to the local business but will also help to make a mark at the national but international level.
As it expands overtime, he said that workshop and seminars will be conducted and best seeds from around the world will be brought to help entrepreneurs at the grassroot level.
He hoped that this event will not only be about promoting flowers and entrepreneurship which will generate keen interest for tourism of Nagaland not only locals but people coming from outside the state.
The agency has also made it a permanent weekend venue to give citizens an opportunity to explore and people visiting from outside Nagaland can schedule their itinerary accordingly.
The IDAN with the support of the state government and financial institutions is also launching floriculture scheme with banks where loans will be provided to the flower businesses at a lower interest rate. Some banks, Metha mentioned were Northeast Finance, Nagaland Rural Bank, Bank of Baroda have come forward to tie with the IDAN.
Metha said that the bazaar will bring out 450 weekend employment and more than 300 permanent employments.
Earlier, he also informed that government has sanctioned Rs 48 lakh for the Bloom Bazaar which will initially be for a year or 30 weekends.
The entry fee for the launching weekend, Friday and Saturday will be free. The organizers informed that a nominal fee in the subsequent weeks will be charged.
