K. Filip Sumi
Dimapur | November 17
In a major development that could foster greater ties between Nagaland and US, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Humanity International, a non-profit organization registered with the state of Nagaland and US Senator, Paul Strauss, District of Columbia. The MoU was signed under the supervision of department of tourism and agri & allied department, government of Nagaland on Saturday at NER Agri Expo site.
In the MoU, Humanity International has been referred as “Introducer” while the office of the US Senator, Paul Strauss has been referred to as “Accepter” and the department of tourism and the agri & allied departments referred to as “Community Partners.”
The MoU agreed to mutually promote opportunities for Tourism, Agricultural Development, cultural exchanges, and goodwill between the people in the state of Nagaland and the office of the US Senator for the District of Columbia. The intention of the parties involved in the MoU is to participate in the programme for the purpose of providing potential educated Naga students or/and government officials or/and trainee with the opportunity to receive needed legislative and political training.
In consideration of the mutual covenants, DC Senator Paul Strauss agreed to accept participants identified by Humanity International under the supervision of their Community Partners with the purpose of providing training opportunities to learn about the US political system through a Legislative and Public Policy internship and to promote community outreach. The training will be for a maximum of three months after intensive training in Humanity International office as per the requirement of the community partners.
Besides this agreement, the signatories agreed: to build international relations through “Friendship Protocols”; to benefit from leadership in the field of environment and energy efficiency designs while building tourism infrastructure; to promote eco-friendly tourism experiences and knowledge; to assist in mutually beneficial transfer of know-how, especially in the field of capacity building, in their respective areas of strength; to further exchange in social and economic and educational sectors; and to share experiences in the field of conservation of biodiversity, adaption to climate change.
The agreement which would be effective from 2012 was signed by Angely Sema director of Humanity International; Paul Strauss US Senator District of Columbia; I. Himato Zhimomi commissioner & secretary, department of tourism and HK Khulu principal secretary, APC agriculture on behalf of agri & allied department.
Prior to the signing of the MoU, Senator Paul Strauss thanked the government of Nagaland for its hospitality and expressed his wish to visit the state again. He particularly thanked APC and principal secretary, HK Khulu for his “fine work and hospitality.” Strauss said it was fitting that a visit is taking place from one of the world’s oldest democracy to the world’s largest democracy. The Senator said he would display the framed photographs of Nagas performing cultural items presented to him, inside the John A. Wilson Building in the US.
He also presented certificate of appreciation and mementos to HK Khulu and I. Himato Zhimomi.
