Officials from Austrian Embassy’s Commercial Section and stakeholders from Nagaland during a roundtable discussion hosted by StartUp Nagaland, in partnership with the Department of Industries & Commerce in Kohima on August 22. (Photo Courtesy: DIC)
Holds discussion in Kohima
Kohima, August 22 (MExN): The Austrian Embassy’s Commercial Section is currently in Nagaland as part of a broader fact-finding mission to explore the entrepreneurial ecosystem in North-East India. This mission is focused on identifying potential avenues for collaboration, innovation, and economic growth in the region.
In this connection, StartUp Nagaland, in partnership with the Department of Industries & Commerce (DIC), hosted a roundtable discussion today at the Innovation & Incubation Space (IIS), Kohima.
Termed a “significant step” towards fostering international collaboration in entrepreneurship, the roundtable was attended by key officials from the Austrian Embassy, government representatives, industry stakeholders, and local start-ups.
The objective was to explore potential partnerships and bolster Nagaland's start-up ecosystem, stated a press release from the DIC.
Among others, Ajay Singh, Head of Technology and Innovation at the Austrian Embassy's Commercial Section, and Arun Verma, Advisor on Organisational Matters at Vantage Info, graced the event.
The State’s side was represented by Shanavas, Secretary to the DIC; P. Tokugha Sema, Director DIC; and representatives from various key stakeholders, including the Department of Information Technology & Communication, Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and Business Association of Nagas.
Five state-empanelled incubators – YouthNet Incubation Centre, Educentre School of Business, NEILIT, NTTC, and Nagabots – along with start-ups and entrepreneurs, were also present at the roundtable.
Speaking at the roundtable, Shanavas stressed the critical role of international partnerships in nurturing the start-up ecosystem in Nagaland and conveyed the State's commitment to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial environment.
Delegates from the Embassy also shared their perspectives and explored avenues for collaboration with local stakeholders, touching upon the potential for innovation, technology exchange, and capacity building.
Singh and Verma also offered insights into how Austrian expertise and resources could be harnessed to support the growth of local start-ups.
Local start-ups were invited to showcase their innovative business models and products, identifying potential areas for collaboration.
The roundtable discussion proved to be highly productive, with all participants expressing optimism about the future of Nagaland's start-up ecosystem, the release said.
The Austrian officials also lauded the State’s efforts in fostering a vibrant start-up culture and emphasised their commitment to supporting the region's economic development through sustained partnerships, it added.
As per the release, the Austrian delegation’s visit is part of a larger tour across multiple states in North-East India, and in Nagaland, they are engaging with key stakeholders, including the DIC, StartUp Nagaland, and local start-ups, to understand the unique challenges and opportunities present in the State.
The visit also included meetings with government officials and industry representatives to discuss strategic partnerships.
