Members of the Nagaland delegation led by Abu Metha, Hekani Jakhalu, Kumar Ramnikant and others pose with Japanese representatives following a meeting on developmental collaboration.
KOHIMA/TOKYO, JULY 5 (MExN): A high-level delegation from the Government of Nagaland is currently on an official visit to Japan to explore potential collaborations, partnerships, and development initiatives with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private corporations, and civil society organisations.
The delegation is being led by Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and includes Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) Chairman Abu Metha, Advisor for Industries and Commerce Hekani Jakhalu, Commissioner and Secretary of Industries and Commerce Kumar Ramnikant, and other senior officials.
Ahead of the Chief Minister’s arrival, IDAN and the Department of Industries and Commerce held a series of high-level meetings in Tokyo, led by Abu Metha and Hekani Jakhalu.
The meetings built on the historical and cultural ties between Nagaland and Japan, particularly their shared World War II heritage and ongoing people-to-people exchanges.
The delegation held discussions with key organisations such as Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), Konnekt Asia, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Talks focused on opportunities in human resource development across sectors including agriculture, hospitality, healthcare, tourism, arts and culture, sports, and film.
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation highlighted its ongoing projects in India’s North Eastern region, with emphasis on people-to-people contact, Track Two diplomacy, peacebuilding, and knowledge exchange. Metha underscored the importance of transforming wartime memories into constructive partnerships for peace and cooperation.
JICA expressed interest in expanding its human resource exchange programmes by linking Japanese industry requirements with Indian talent. The IDAN Chairman conveyed appreciation for JICA’s ongoing work in Nagaland and discussed possibilities for deeper collaboration.
Discussions with NYK Line centred on the company’s contributions to Nagaland and the potential for expanding engagements in the services and hospitality sectors to promote employment and capacity-building among youth.
The delegation also visited Kochi Prefecture, where detailed deliberations were held on joint initiatives related to skill development, capacity building, technology transfer, and investment in sectors such as food processing and agriculture. Both sides explored the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Nagaland and the Government of Kochi Prefecture.
The Nagaland team highlighted the state’s high literacy rate, English proficiency, and strong social and cultural capital as key strengths, while also presenting its new Industrial Policy, which offers incentives and a favourable environment for investment and responsible business.
The exploratory meetings are expected to lay the groundwork for formal engagements during the Chief Minister’s visit, where discussions are likely to be consolidated and advanced further.
