People-to-people contact necessary to promote trade & commerce: Governor

Zeliang asks Nagas to develop work culture; Rio calls for support to resolve Naga issue

Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 4

NAGALAND Governor PB Acharya said people-to-people contact is more affective and progressive to build the social relationship and promote trade and commerce between states and region.
Inaugurating first ever Business Promotion and Tourism Summit between Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) and Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI), jointly hosted by Dimapur and Kohima CCIs, in Kohima on Thursday, Acharya said the North East region and particularly Nagaland has many mineral resources and deposits of gold but there is a need to bring in investors through people to people contact.
He lamented that businessmen and investors do not want to come to this part of the country because they do not know and have not been educated about the potentiality of the region. He said knowing each other better would help promote trade and commerce and also social relationship with the mainland.
The mainland people are to be blamed if the North East region lacks behind other parts of the country, he said while appealing firms and investors to help the region prosper with their knowledge of industry.
He also maintained that the fruits of progress and development should reach every corner of the country, lest it would promote naxalite movement.
The Governor expressed the hope that the summit which has brought together trade and commerce bodies of the two states would be a new beginning towards achieving the desired goals without the involvement of the government.
Chief Minister TR Zeliang, in his speech, said Nagas as a people should change their mindset towards development of work culture. He hoped that the success stories of MACCIA would help the Naga people in regaining the work culture as tey have more to learn from such exchange summit.
He also said Maharashtra can also benefit from the unique handloom and handicraft products, organic agriculture and horticulture products etc. available in Nagaland. “We only need to know how to grow in bulk and also how to export to other parts of the country,” he said.
He was of the view that even though there are great contrasts in topography and climate of the two seats, they can provide incentive for promotion of cultural exchanges and tourism.
As the Look East Policy & Act East Policy of the Central Government gets implemented in its true sense, there could be more opportunities of mutual interests developing between Mumbai, the Gateway of India in the west and Nagaland, the future gateway of India in the East, he said.
He also expressed the hope that the summit would be the eye opener for opportunities of such exchanges between the two states.
Zeliang also acknowledged the Governor for taking the initiatives to hold the summit.
Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio said Nagaland being a small State lacked infrastructure development and absence of national or regional institutions worth its name. But, he said the State is rich and good in many things and expressed the hope that the State would be able to catch up with the rest of the world.
Maintaining that Naga political problem is not only a problem of the Naga people but of the nation, he called upon all the people those who have seen the State and the people to support towards resolving the issue so that peace in achieved in the State.
Noting that peace is the pre-requisite for any development, he said the top priority of the Naga people, including the state government and business community, is early resolution of Naga political issue. “If peace comes to this part of the region, then we will no more be a liability but be a real asset of the country,” he said.
“We have so many resources and also amongst the hot-biodiversity spot of the world, but yet to explore or exploit the resources,” Rio said while maintaining that the present generation has to play their part for the future to move towards peace and development.
Rio further encouraged the MACCIA to come to the State saying the State Assembly had passed resolution to set up Special Development Zone along the foothill areas and relax the Inner Line Regulation Act to help outsiders invest in the State. He also appealed to them to help set up institutions on skill development, technical and call centres.
MACCIA representative Shantanu Bhadkamkar assured to extend all possible support to the State’s business community while also maintaining that English being official language of the State, the youths MACCIA would facilitate employment opportunities through entrepreneurship.
Atul Kulkarni, another leader of MACCIA, said a congenial social eco-system is a pre-requisite for industrial development and expressed hope that the State could develop in industry related to natural resources of oil, coal and medicinal herbs.
Besides, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries from Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Peren, Wokha, Zunheboto, Tuensang, Phek and Longleng, the summit was attended by ministers Kaito Aye, Dr. Benjongliba and Kipili Sangtam, parliamentary secretaries R. Tohanba, Vikheho Swu and Dr. Longriniken, Commissioner & Secretary Industries MK Mero.
The inaugural session was chaired by KCCI joint secretary Kekhrienuo Mor.