Kohima, August 14 (MExN): The first general meeting of the Naga Business Association Kohima (NBAK) took place on August 13 at APO Hall, Kohima.
Addressing Naga businesspersons and entrepreneurs, NBAK president Katsükhrie Kesiezie in his keynote address highlighted that NBAK was formed by some like-minded genuine Naga businesspersons with a view to safeguard and uplift the local businesspersons and entrepreneurs.
“We local people must venture out in the business field as it is one of the only fields where we Naga can attain self sufficiency and be self reliant,” he stated. The president said the association is a purely non- profit organisation and formed not to oppose any individual, group or community, but to support each other for the welfare of the Naga businesspersons and entrepreneurs.
Among other senior and prominent businessmen, Kesao Kesiezie and Ketu Angami while speaking on the occasion appreciated the NBAK platform to encourage and support the local businesspersons.
During the discussion hour, the members deliberated at length on taxation. The members urged the Naga Political Groups to sincerely support the “genuine” Naga businesspersons stating that the present Naga businesspersons are the first generation in the business field.
“Therefore, they (NPGs) should encourage the upcoming Naga businessmen for the prosperity of the Naga society,” the members said, according to a release received here.
The members expressed alarm that many business establishments though owned and run by the non Nagas are registered in Naga name because of which even the State government is losing the revenue. Therefore, such trend must be discouraged and abolished, the members stated.
The meeting also strongly voiced against the motive of the Kohima Municipal Council in issuing “illegal tender permits” to some individuals. Maintaining that the practice is leading to the market price of essential commodities being monopolized, the members urged the KMC to sincerely look into all the illegal permits. The meeting also welcomed any genuine Naga businessperson for membership in the association on condition that it should be owned only by the genuine Naga people. The meeting was chaired by NBAK secretary, Atou Kapfo. The moderator of the discussion was NBAK vice president, Nitoshe Sheqi, while vote of thanks was pronounced by NBAK joint secretary, Jean Metha.
