Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang MLA and Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer, alongwith executives from Redington and LSC on September 11.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 11
Nagaland marked the launch of its first Centre of Excellence in logistics, established by Redington Foundation in collaboration with the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC). The centre— Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE), located in Sector 3, Kushiabill, Dimapur, was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang on September 11. MLA and Advisor for Labour, Employment & Skill Development and Excise alongwith executives from Redington and LSC were present.
The COLTE was the fruition of a tripartite agreement between the Department of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Redington Foundation, and the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) signed in March 2026.
According to the Deputy CM, it is the first centre of its kind in the northeast of India. After similar centres in Chennai and Hyderabad, he said, “Nagaland joins that national network, the first of its kind in our State and in the Northeast.”
Highlighting Dimapur’s strategic position as the state’s multi-modal transit hub under the Act East Policy, Zeliang noted that while high-value local produce (Naga king chilli, kiwi, coffee beans, bamboo) frequently transits through Dimapur, local youth have been unable to manage this supply chain for a lack of training. He added that the state government is targetting to replicate the COLTE model in other “logistics-relevant districts” as well.
No data was provided but he said that Nagaland already holds the highest proportion of government employees relative to population among all Indian states. Citing official government data, he said that 92 percent of the 71,000 youth registered as unemployed lacks technical or vocational training.
COLTE is mandated to train 360 candidates every year with an assured 100 placement job placement rate. According to MLA and Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer, under the partnership, the government would serves as infrastructure provider and administrative backer, Redington Foundation as the CSR funding entity, and LSC delivering the curriculum and running the training.
He said that the programme will operate for a minimum for three years, with potential long-term extension. Its training mandate encompasses practical industry exposure, upskilling, training of trainers, specialised industry programs in alignment with industry or market requirements.
B Ramaratnam, Independent Director of Redington Limited said that the launch of COLTE marks the company’s official entry into northeast India. While stating modern logistics has transitioned from manual movement of goods into an automated, data-driven sector, he said that COLTE aims to produce professionals trained in data analytics, process automation, warehousing tech, and end-to-end supply chain management.
According to Ramanatnam, the state government provided approximately 4000 square feet inside a government facility at zero rent. It has classroom and hostel facilities under one roof eliminating travel and lodging barriers for candidates hailing from remote areas.
Moving lives
Logistics Sector Skill Council Board Member KV Mahidhar, LSC Board Member said that the curriculum has been designed to not just train ground-level workers, but also supervisors, planners, technology users, managers, and logistics entrepreneurs. He envisioned Nagaland not only as a transit point for goods, but as a major source of skilled logistics talent for both India and the global market to cash in on a growing logistics sector.
The LSC is a not-for-profit organistion set up under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). “The roads being built across the Northeast will move goods, the railways will move cargo, the logistics park will move business, but this COLTE centre will move lives,” he said.
The programme also witnessed the exchange of an Memorandum of Understanding between the LSC and Zipaworld Innovation Private Limited for international placement of trainees.
