Naga entrepreneurs form trade centres association

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 12 (EMN): A group of Naga entrepreneurs, cutting across different states and international boundaries, have come together to form an organisation with the nomenclature ‘Naga International Trade Centres Association’ (NITCA) to promote trade and culture in both Naga areas and globally. NITCA was formally launched in Kohima on Thursday.
Highlighting the aims and objectives of the association during the launch programme, Augustine Reeding, one of the founding members, said NITCA would work towards enabling Naga businesses, business owners and entrepreneurs to connect and share professional experiences to develop domestic as well as global trade network which would benefit not just the business community but the economy of the region.

He explained that NITCA will focus and function in all Naga territories, irrespective of division created by international boundary, which would be governed and managed by NITCA boards.

The association will cover five divisional zones namely northern zone – areas under present Arunachal Pradesh in India; eastern zone – areas under present Union of Myanmar; central zone – areas under present Nagaland state in India; western zone – areas under present Assam state in India, and southern zone – areas under the present Manipur state in India.

Reeding also informed that NITCA membership would consist of four categories: official Naga enterprise / company, global company, official individual business, and individual business user memberships.

Speaking on the occasion as a special guest, MLA and advisor for department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Namri Nchang congratulated the NITCA officials for launching a platform with a ‘right vision and strategy’ which will benefit all, particularly Nagas both in India and Myanmar in bridging economic gaps that they faced.
“Today, Nagas are hugely divided on many fronts; however, we still have a chance for all of us to come together for economic development of the region. A platform like NITCA is the need of the hour where various businesses in the region can create a relationship platform to create a better economic development with understanding in the region,” the advisor said.

He expressed hope that NITCA will become the ideal platform to create awareness for economic growth in the Naga society and build a strong relationship with the rest of the world, while benefitting the people in enhancement of their livelihood opportunities and creating employment avenues for the educated unemployed youths.

The legislator opined that entrepreneurs can become the backbone of the society when they contribute towards building a strong economy.
He said there were too many educationally qualified youth but felt that unless they became economically independent, the society cannot progress.
Stating that the Nagas were living in a small society and needed to look beyond their small community, Nchang pointed out that if steered properly, NITCA will have a lot to offer to the business community and to the broader community as they wrestle with the issues of the modern world trade development.

Delivering a brief talk on the roadmap of NITCA for 2018-22, association treasurer, Neikedolie Hiekha informed that members would be embarking on an industrial tour to China and Vietnam in August. The delegates would conduct market study focusing on eco-tourism, agro-based food processing, construction firms, import and export, and also interact with business communities in those countries.

He said there was a proposal and planning for an international trade fair to be held in the near future.
A NITCA handout outlines the aims of the association to work on promotion, marketing, investment and also in formulating plans, policies and roadmap in various sectors such as tourism, agriculture, handicrafts and textiles, construction and property development, education, technology, manufacturing, mining, finance, power and energy, petroleum and gas, research and development, innovation, economic development agency, and on international trade and development.

The association states to undertake a series of developmental tasks including creating local business meets, innovation incubators, conduct national and international business conferences, industrial tours, international trade fairs in major Naga inhabited towns, development of skills and employability for civil society, and list Naga businesses in NITCA profile / space.