Morung Express News
Kohima | November 17
Observing the lack of financial knowledge among the people, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio remarked “our people have been mentally distorted, and the way how we were brought up and discuss things has changed our mindset, characters and activities.”
Noting that all the people, including politicians talk about politics whether one knows or not, he said ‘we all do politicking’ adding ‘let’s stop taking about politics. Let politicians or who are involved talk about politics, and not everybody.”
This remark came during the launching of the ‘Export Facilitation Cell’ of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) initiated by the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) today at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.
Congratulating IDAN and the IIFT, Rio said this is a huge step for the state of Nagaland, and hopes that the entrepreneurs and the youth will take advantage of this facility and do promotional activities for themselves and the state.
Talk about economy
Rio also noted that people in the state don’t talk about economy, which is why he was of the view that people, particularly young children don’t show interest to study economics or financial system.
Stressing on the importance of teaching the basics of financial education at young age, he said parents and teachers should start teaching their children and students citing example of the Marwarwis who start teaching their children about business at young age.
Validating his views, Rio pointed out that most students go the easy way pursuing only Arts stream to get their degree certificates, and which is why most couldn’t find place despite availability of avenues in other sectors.
Our resources lying dormant
‘I don’t regard my state or my people poor’ said Rio stating that we have rich mineral resources, oil & gas and forest products, which are not exploited and lying dormant due to some factors.
"Due to our Naga political issue, our resources exploitation of petroleum & natural gas has stopped since 1994 and till date, though our oil pipes are leaking, there are no activities which have curtailed internal resources to take up developmental activities,” said Rio.
Moreover, huge problem have been created owing to the pandemic which has affected the world, including the state of Nagaland. However, he added that the pandemic has brought the realisation on the importance of self-sufficiency, towards which the government is taking various steps and measures.
This is a good beginning
Expressing hope that this will be a good beginning as Nagaland have huge potentials to grow, Rio pinned his hope on the youth of the state and that they have to be more focus inorder to grow and progress and be at par with others.
“We blame one another but we are all responsible and we have to take responsibilities” said Rio while pointing out that Nagas have very few successful business men and women.
Attributing this to lack of an organised system to do business rendering the state as a ‘consumer society’, Rio said the government is doing its best to facilitate and that the entrepreneurs and youth have to come forward with dedication.
“Our hope lies with our youth. They have talent but they have to be focus and dedicated. We cannot be half-hearted inorder to be at par with others” he commented.
Rs 35 crores set aside for innovations
The Chief Minister informed that the government has kept aside Rs. 35 crore to invest in innovations, however, said “till today, we couldn’t be convinced to invest to anybody’s innovation.”
To this, he added that if there are no takers, the fund will be diverted. Although, he assumed that the absence of any takers could either be due to lack of communication gap or no interest.
Make this work
Also observing that implementation of work/project are very weak in the state, Rio has appealed to the entrepreneurs, state government agencies and departments to work as a team Nagaland and see to it that this takes off.
Although many good projects comes, he noted that after being formally started, there is little or no implementation.
Congratulating IDAN, IIFT and all those involved in this, Rio assured all out support of the government given that IDAN and entrepreneurs can come out with some innovations.
Facilitation agency to address export issues
Funded by the North East Council (NEC), CEO IDAN, Alemtemshi Jamir said this cell would be handed over to the Industries & Commerce which will be a facilitation agency to address export issues.
This cell, he informed would help the entrepreneurs to expand their consumer base through educating, guiding and creating awareness. He also termed this as a ‘big leap for the state of Nagaland.’
Giving an overview of the Cell, Dr Manoj Pant, Vice Chancellor, IIFT said it is importance for the Northeastern states, particularly Nagaland, to move out of their regions and connect with the outside world. And to make this possible, he said it would help with the trade procedurals and ease the paths for the entrepreneurs. He however, added “the work is yours and the government has to identify the exporters from the state” and called upon the people of the state to do things together for export promotion of the state.
