Nagaland: Entrepreneurs urged to build trust

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 23 (EMN): Commissioner and Secretary, Finance department, V Kezo, on Wednesday stressed on the need to create trust and reliability of businesses in the state.

He was addressing the Accelerating Startup Calibre and Entrepreneurial Drive (ASCEND), Nagaland Start-Up Workshop at Hotel De Oriental Grand in Kohima.

The official maintained that Nagaland has been struggling to converge to ensure a vibrant and enabling environment for businesses yet expressed optimism that the step taken by the state government to provide a corpus of INR 60 crore will help.

Informing that the government’s corpus will be implemented through the respective deputy commissioners as subsidy and with low interest, he said it will go a long way in facilitating affordable flow of institutional credit to entrepreneurs.

Kezo also advised the entrepreneurs to conduct surveys and get feedback from potential customers, build their credibility with the banks through transaction and regularity profile, and earn their trust to get credits.

Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary, department of Industries and Commerce, Startup India Nodal Officer, Nagaland, Kekhrievor Kevichusa presented the state policy incentives while highlighting the state government’s endeavour to help startups and create opportunities.

Maintaining that Nagas do not lack talent and creativity but navigation, he emphasised on the need to have 100 startups from all districts, rather than one startup from each district.

On the occasion, Director of Industries and Commerce, Vitsutho Nyuthe launched the updated version of Startup Nagaland portal.

Kenei Theunuo, team leader of Startup Nagaland and Assistant Director Industries and Commerce, earlier in her opening remarks, said startups create job and generate revenue besides promoting innovation and creativity.

The day-long event also saw sensitisation and awareness sessions, bootcamps and knowledge sessions for startups, aspiring entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers in Nagaland.

Entrepreneurs awarded

Meanwhile, YouthNet Incubation Centre also presented the awards for Startup Innovation Challenge. Peihauding was awarded INR 1 lakh on winning the first prize for ‘Ngourie: Bio-enhancer; 100% organic fertiliser’; second prize went to Vaibhav Jain ‘AHIBO LLP: Last Mile Zero emission delivery service’, for which he was awarded INR 20,000; while the third prize winner Regina Chakruno received INR 10,000 for ‘REGINA: Sustainable Fashion; Pineapple fibers for textile’.

In student category, Kekhrieneilie Kire from Kohima Science College won the first prize for his ‘Leech repellent leg wear’ (accessory), while Ahyule Keppen from Tetso College Dimapur won second prize for her ‘Ornaments with information on origin’ and Tasazhu Stem Club of GHS Tasazhu Jotsoma won the third prize for ‘Portable and chargeable lamp (electricity, solar, manual)’.