Officials pose for a photo during the inauguration of the new NITI Incubation Center at Marwari Patti in Dimapur on June 6.
Dimapur, June 6 (MExN): A new NITI Incubation Center, supported by the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Nagaland, was inaugurated in Dimapur on Friday with an aim to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation and startup development in the state.
The incubation centre at Marwari Patti was inaugurated in the presence of entrepreneurs, educators, startup founders, students, Army officials, representatives of partner schools, industry members and other invited guests.
Director of Industries and Commerce, P Tokugha Sema, who attended the programme as the chief guest, lauded NITI's efforts in promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, skilling and startup culture among the youth of Nagaland and the Northeast.
He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to utilise incubation support systems and government initiatives to establish sustainable enterprises and generate employment opportunities. Sema also informed the gathering that the department has sponsored seven incubation centres and expressed confidence that the initiative would benefit the youth of the state.
The programme began with an invocation prayer by Sedevizo Keyho, while Kielamlung Zeliang delivered the benediction prayer.
The event was chaired by Sweta Giri, who outlined the vision and objectives of the incubation centre. In his keynote address, NITI Chief Executive Officer Er. Rishav Sethi highlighted the importance of innovation-driven entrepreneurship, startup mentoring, digital transformation, artificial intelligence-driven opportunities and the need to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nagaland.
Presentations on startups operating under the NITI ecosystem were delivered by NITI Incubation Center Manager Alovi Shohe and her colleagues Prakash Mahela and Solobu Kent. The organisers informed that seven startups are currently functioning under the ecosystem in sectors including technology, education, skilling, IT-enabled services, entrepreneurship development and innovation support.
IIT graduate Aayush Lakhera also spoke on NITI Academy, an upcoming initiative aimed at strengthening STEM education in Nagaland.
According to the organisers, the incubation centre will provide mentorship, infrastructure, startup guidance, training, networking opportunities and industry linkages for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators from Nagaland and neighbouring states.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Gideon Rongmei, who acknowledged the contributions of the chief guest, dignitaries, participants, media representatives and supporters.
On the occasion, NITI also launched four products—Mascot, NITI Dashboard, Yes Broker and Thikedaar—as part of its efforts to expand entrepreneurship support and innovation services in the region.
