DIMAPUR, SEPT 23 (MExN): A group of young entrepreneurs who have ventured into business in the stretch of land known as Chumukedima are broadcasting the notion that to be successful in Nagaland one does not necessarily have to be employed in the government sector.
Take the case of childhood friends Vinson Kikon, 29, and Ali Akbar, 30. They own the only offset printing machine in the town located at the suburbs of Dimapur. It’s only been three months since their machine, bought with a loan from NIDC and personal investment, started churning printed paper. But the businessmen who made a ‘studied decision’ are driven by passion and say they love their work. And today’s entrepreneurs are of a different breed. Vinson and Ali studied the features of different printing machines on the internet before buying one.
Vinson says he’s practicing what Oprah Winfrey promotes: you can do what you want to do and also get paid for it. Besides being a partner to ‘Impression Printing Service’, he teaches Commerce at Patkai Christian College and Mount Mary Higher Secondary School. His associate, Ali, a 3-year diploma holder in computer education, thus works for longer hours at the establishment.
The duo has plans for expanding their fledgling business into a publishing house which can promote the literary aptitude of the youth. “That will be our marketing strategy,” Vinson pictures.
Across the road lies Megovizo Meyase’s tailoring institute, started by him and his wife two years ago. Aged at 29, and a father of a child, Megovizo says he opened the institute, initially funded by his parents, after ending his bachelor days. He’s received sewing lessons from institutes in Dimapur and Mumbai.
As a kid, he ‘played around’ with stitching. Noting his interest, his parents sent him to a tailoring school instead of allowing him to ‘waste time’ while waiting for his matriculate examination results.
Youth aspiring to enter the business realm can perhaps learn from a ‘guru.’ Meet Kekhrieselhou Yhome, 34, who in 1995 opened a shop with only greeting cards as his wares. “Ki misa kobo, Marwari khan pora baki loigina card laga dukan khulishe (I started my business of selling cards by taking credit from Marwaris),” he reminisces with a grin. Today, his shop sells cards, gifts, cosmetics and other provisions.
The enterprising youth of the town are also into technology. Imtilemba Jamir, a partner to a cyber café, says he has gained from experience and has also built contacts over the period of nearly 14 months he has ventured into entrepreneurship. His neighbour, Setilo Rengma, a partner to the only shop which sells mobile phones at Chumukedima agrees with him. Both Imtilemba and Setilo recall that there was a rush in the number of customers when they initially began business. With time, trade has declined to some extent but the entrepreneurs are keen on improvising and adapting to the dynamics of the market.
