Participants, organisers, officials and experts of the workshop “From Product to Power Brand” held at Sangtemla Hall, Mokokchung on August 28. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | August 28
What does it take for a local product to compete on a global shelf? For more than 90 entrepreneurs gathered at Sangtemla Hall, Mokokchung, the answer lies in branding, packaging and marketing—the three focus areas of a two-day workshop that began on August 29.
Among the participants are 82 existing entrepreneurs along with aspiring business owners from Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Longleng and Tuensang districts. Significantly, 62% of the trainees are women entrepreneurs, a figure the organisers hailed as an encouraging sign of “Nari Shakti” driving Nagaland’s enterprise sector.
Titled “From Product to Power Brand,” the workshop is organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce in association with the Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Limited under the World Bank-supported Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme.
Speaking at the inaugural session, B. Asangla, General Manager of the District Industries Centre, Mokokchung, said the workshop comes at a critical moment for entrepreneurs in Nagaland.
“Our entrepreneurs are the backbone of the local economy. They are creative and hardworking, but what they need now is the right knowledge and strategy to let their products shine in bigger markets,” she said.
She also reminded participants that even the best product cannot succeed if its value is not clearly communicated: “If the product’s value is not communicated to customers, it will be like winking in the dark—you may know it, but others cannot see it.”
The sessions are being led by industry experts including Aslam Ahmed and Jaydip Lahkar of Sigma Design India, Ranjit Baruah, Founder of Aromica Tea, and P. Dhanabir Sharma, CEO of Northeast Unexplored (NEUx). Together, they bring expertise in brand strategy, creative design, digital marketing, sustainable packaging, and entrepreneurship.
The two-day programme features sessions on brand fundamentals, packaging design principles, packaging materials, market expansion, digital assets, content marketing, sales and distribution, customer loyalty, and growth strategies. It also includes interactive sessions and one-on-one mentorship for participants.
The RAMP scheme, a World Bank-assisted Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Government of India, seeks to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
Designed as a post-COVID initiative to support entrepreneurs, the scheme focuses on improving competitiveness, fostering innovation and technology, expanding markets, promoting sustainability, and building a stronger institutional ecosystem for MSMEs.
