Chizokho Vero
Kohima | June 27
Marking a significant milestone for Naga entrepreneurs, Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today inaugurated ‘Made in Nagaland’ Expo Centre here near Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima under ‘Impact 5000 by 18’ campaign’ by YouthNet Nagaland in partnership with the state government.
‘Made in Nagaland’ Expo centre houses various works, products and services of talented Nagas and entrepreneurs, ranging from shawls, mekhelas, trousers, crafts, jewelries, food products, soaps, footwears etc.
YouthNet maintained that each one of the product is important to the state and making an impact to state’s economy growth.
Rio complimented YouthNet for the challenges they took to impact 5000 youth by 2018.
Stating that the government wants to promote entrepreneurship, industry sector and motivate the people to do business in whatever capacity, he urged upon the Naga entrepreneurs to inculcate work culture and a sense of competition to prosper in the business venture.
“We are also working on new industrial policy,” Rio said adding that government has recently created Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland, where the members will be moving around the country or even abroad to bring in investors and build the state economy.
Further, Rio also called upon the youth to have consistency and to avoid adopting the system of others, saying “we have our potentials, our own raw materials, craftsmen, arts, motifs and our designs are plenty and we don’t have to borrow anything from outside.”
YouthNet director Lezo Putsure hoped that those Naga entrepreneurs benefitted from ‘Impact 5000 by 18’ will become business stars. He was also optimistic that Made in Nagaland Expo Centre will be a space for Naga entrepreneurs to scale up their ventures and take the name of Nagas forward.
YouthNet founder Hekani Jakhalu informed that the launching of ‘Made in Nagaland’ Expo Centre mark the official closing of ‘Impact 5000 by 18’ programme.
A look at some of the Made in Nagaland brand names in the market
Kaka Sumi
‘Kaka Sumi’ is the debut collection of Kaka Sumi. His debut collection of footwear is a result of carefully studied and planned process, choosing different leather textures to bring about the best of fusion in modern, classic and contemporary.
Flavors of Nagaland
Flavors of Nagaland is a Dimapur based local wine producing unit. The wine is made out of seasonal organic fruit and preserved in glass bottles for four months before going into the market. The sticky rice wine is made out of sticky rice. Though the wine has been in the market only for the third year, it has become very popular amongst the people of Nagaland.
Tsuipu Food Product
Lovi Achumi, a Dimapur based Naga lady who made the one of a kind wild gooseberry wine in Nagaland along with other assortment of food products. Some Naga entrepreneurs has also ventured into delicacies of Nagaland- Fried pork skin, Axone chutney, smoked beef chutney, Anishi chutney, Yongchak & garlic pickles.
Ete Coffee
Ete Coffee is Naga’s own first coffee roasting company in Nagaland with a tagline “Justice a Cup.” Established in 2016, today the Company has its own farm, roaster and coffee bar, the first to introduce the concept “Roastery & Coffee Bar” in the whole of North East India.
Saucy Joe’s
The renowned chef and mentor of Naga chef, Joel started a food processing unit with an aim to promote the local ingredients and also to create a sustainable market for the farmers and producers.
The Villagers
The Villagers creates work of art using pebbles, stone and wood craft which are grounded on the expression of feelings and human emotions. With an aspiration to contribute towards creating platform and opportunities for youngsters in little ways, Renn Mhonbemo Kikon started the venture with the belief that everything starts small.
Gutouch
Gugu Kuotsu is a self- taught jewelry designer. She showcases and sells her products at various national and international trade fairs. The designer also collaborate and use a co-creation process with local talented indigenous artisans and young promising designers in Nagaland to fuse ancient indigenous craft and art of modern design approach to come up with unique designs.
Precious Melove
Handcrafted by local tribal women from Nagaland, the Nungshiba doll is an innovation of Precious Melove online fashion brand. Each doll is handicraft with precision, creativity, artistic talent and perseverance. This Expo Centre also featured the works and products of Lavender Bliss by Asungla Jamir, Green Tea by Roots, Avono Chase, Zaben Murry, Lorenzas by Nzano, Myrtle by Heloise by Heloise Kelio, Inla’s Genesis, Beady Beads by Esther Lhousa, Alno- Craft, Mixpick Enterprise, Ikali Studio by Ikali Sukhalu, The Angry Mother Soap Co. by Akitoli, Vitho Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd, etc.
