Tana Bana District Handloom Expo was inaugurated at Sky Garden, Chümoukedima on January 23.

Chümoukedima, January 23 (MExN): The Tana Bana District Handloom Expo was inaugurated by Tokugha Achumi, Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Nagaland, at Sky Garden, Chümoukedima on January 23. It was funded by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The event was organised by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce with the Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland (WENN) as expo partner, stated a press release received here.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, Tokugha Achumi mentioned that the WENN Bazaar which took place in October last year left a lasting impression on him. This led to the department’s decision to give WENN a boost by giving them a hand in organising another event in the form of the district expo, for the benefit of upcoming as well as established entrepreneurs.
Achumi also mentioned the stark increase of start-ups in Nagaland and how even Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed it out during a recent speech. When appreciation is coming even from the prime ministerial level, we have to do something, he said, calling on the participants to use the opportunity to expose their products and experience new ways to showcase their products.
Earlier, Zakietsono Jamir, Public Relations, WENN, delivered the welcome address and chaired the event. Vekuvolu Dozo, founder of Viko Ethnic shared her experiences as a struggling small scale weaver and how she now owns her own enterprise and provides employment to several other weavers. Though she has gone on to win state and national awards last year, the journey has not been easy, but it was hard work, collaborations with the Industries department and exposure through WENN, that she has been able to scale up, Dozo said.
The event included a vote of thanks delivered by Regina Chakrunuo, Community Head of WENN. Sarbeswar Das, the Assistant Director of Weavers’ Service Centre, Toluvi was also present at the inaugural programme.