Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio seen with other dignitaries and officials during the inauguration of the Tech X Gaming Expo (TXG) 2026 at NBCC Convention Hall Kohima on August 28.
Two-day Tech X Gaming Expo (TXG) 2026 underway in Kohima
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 28
Stating that Nagaland must be an active participant in the transformation towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Dr Neiphiu Rio on Friday underscored, “our State may be defined by its hills and unique geography, but Nagaland’s greatest resource is not hidden beneath the soil, but our people, particularly young people.”
Addressing the inaugural of the two-day Tech X Gaming Expo (TXG) 2026, Nagaland’s premier technology and gaming exhibition that got underway at the NBCC convention hall Kohima on August 28, he remarked that, “technology provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to overcome geographical distances, connect talent with opportunity and enable our youth to participate in the national and global economy without necessarily having to leave Nagaland.”
Pointing to the young, creative and highly literate population of the state, he affirmed that, “our responsibility is to create the ecosystem in which their talent can flourish right here at home.”
In the area of Youth, Sports and E-Sports, he highlighted that Nagaland has already demonstrated its enthusiasm for gaming and e-sports. Through initiatives such as the Hornbill E-Sports Championship and participation in the Khelo India Youth Games, he said that, “we have begun building a strong foundation for a new digital sports ecosystem.”
Commenting that the Tech X Gaming Expo takes this further by bringing together e-sports, competitive gaming, game development, streaming, technology and digital career opportunities, he underscored that, “our vision is to build a robust e-sports ecosystem and establish Nagaland as a leading gaming hub in the North-East.”
The objective, he however stated is not merely to produce gamers, but to create opportunities across the entire ecosystem—game developers, designers, broadcasters, commentators, streamers, event managers, data analysts and technology professionals.
In this regard, he said that the Department of Information Technology & Communication is creating the digital backbone required for this transformation while highlighting that “the 18,000 sq. ft. STPI centre in Kohima and the upcoming Nagaland Innovation Hub for Startups at Chümoukedima, supported by the Ministry of DoNER, are important steps towards creating a stronger ecosystem for entrepreneurship, incubation and innovation.”
“We are also looking ahead to the proposed Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, which can support Al-based start-ups, prototypes, employment and training, with applications in areas such as governance, agriculture, healthcare, tourism and sustainability,” he said while emphasising that, “our young people should not have to leave Nagaland simply because the opportunities they seek do not exist here.”
Further noting that the world of work is changing rapidly, he remarked that, “traditional career paths are being complemented by exciting new opportunities in artificial intelligence, software development, data analytics, game design, e-sports, digital content, robotics, geospatial technology and even race engineering.”
If we are to prepare our young people for this changing world, he also underlined that skilling cannot be the responsibility of one Department alone, but that it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
Asserting that accurate spatial information is critical for understanding our land, settlements, infrastructure, natural resources and development needs in a geographically diverse State like Nagaland, he highlighted that the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre (NISRSC) is undertaking important work in this area wherein the Drone Division is using drones and robotics for mapping, monitoring forests and infrastructure, assessing disaster risks and supporting evidence-based planning and governance.
He also informed that they are developing local human resources through the Drone School, which is training certified drone pilots. Following the successful inspection recently, he said that, “we expect the School to receive DCA certification shortly” while spelling its objective to position Nagaland as a leading hub in the North-East for drone skills, innovation and practical applications of unmanned aerial technology.
‘Nagaland has a remarkable story to tell’
Dr Rio also underlined the importance of the role of the Department of Information and Public Relations in today’s digital world, where communication is not simply about disseminating government information but also about telling our story to the world.
In this regard, he related that, “Nagaland has a remarkable story to tell—of our culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, music, sports, innovation and young talent.” He encouraged the use of modern communication platforms “to ensure that the world sees not only the beauty and heritage of Nagaland, but also the talent, innovation and aspirations of our people.”
Ultimately, he said that the foundation of all these efforts must be the state’s education system while pointing out that “the workplace of tomorrow will demand not only knowledge, but also creativity, adaptability, digital literacy, problem-solving and the ability to continuously learn new skills.”
Towards this end, he urged that schools must therefore evolve with the times. He described the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding involving an investment of more than R100 million with Google for collaboration in school education as an important milestone, which, he added, would be a significant step towards strengthening learning methodologies and outcomes through technology and international collaboration.
To the young people of Nagaland, he said, “Do not limit your dreams because of where you come from” while pointing out that the world is changing, and technology is breaking down many of the barriers that once separated talent from opportunity.
Whether their interest is in gaming, coding, artificial intelligence, music, design, robotics, sports, entrepreneurship or any other emerging field, he said, “there is a place for you in the future we are building.”
However, he also reminded that opportunities must be matched by discipline, hard work, continuous learning and a willingness to innovate. “The Government can build the infrastructure and create the opportunities. The responsibility to seize them rests with you,” he added.
Mention may be made here that Tech X Gaming Expo (TXG) 2026 is being organised by the Nagaland Esports Society (NES) in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland featuring a wide range of activities. Envisioned as a platform that brings together gaming, technology, artificial intelligence, digital creativity, esports, innovation, education and entertainment under one roof, it also aims to showcase emerging opportunities for young people in areas such as esports, game development, artificial intelligence, animation, digital art, content creation, technology and entrepreneurship.
Highlights of the inaugural session included invocation by Kyaden Khaming, Associate Pastor, Faith Harvest Church and welcome address by Moalong Longkumer, President, Nagaland E-Sports Society/ TXG Expo/DUG while the programme was chaired by Asangla Imti, Commissioner & Secretary, School Education & SCERT.
