A national conference on “energizing MSMEs in international trade” organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in association with Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, under the theme “2021-2022, Governance for Growth” was held at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur on 28 Jan. 2022.
Addressing the gathering, general secretary, Business Association of Nagas (BAN), Dr. Yan Murry, stated that the association have many plans for the benefit of business establishments, adding that by February, BAN would launching its online registration portal, where one can access the portal to become a member of BAN. He also informed that Nagas from any part of the world, who are into business could register and become a member of the association.
Murry noted that the association was on the process of starting micro finance division, which would assist small Naga entrepreneurs to avail loans. He informed that this would be accessible only by members of BAN, further adding that the interest’s rate would be very less.
He revealed that the association will tour all districts of the state and conduct financial literacy programmes, which will also be available in online platform. In this, Murry asserted that Nagas were still in the first generation of business, stating that the programmes would dwell on how to do accounts, file GST, how to form a company or private limited, how to take loans and repay them, etc.
He reminded that BAN on 2017 organised Nagaland International Trade Expo where a three-day business summit was observed with a team from Buthan to discuss on international trade sector. He also added that the team from Bhutan gave them the offer to export Naga Horti products to Bhutan.
Murry however lamented that the state was not able to reach their demand and said that Nagas should focus on value addition, so as to reach the demand level in the international market.
Deputy director, department of Horticulture, Sashi in his speech stressed on the importance of scaling up production, so as to commercialise the products in the international market.
He informed that the state government has assigned different districts for procuring and aggregating designated agri and allied products, citing the example of Pineapple for Dimapur, Pickle for Kohima, Kiwi from Phek, Fish products from Wokha, Naga Mirchi from Peren, etc.
He however noted that the same products could also be manufactured from other non-designated districts, adding that the main initiative and marketing would be taken by the designated district.
Furthermore, additional commissioner CGST, Dimapur, government of India, Sashi Wapang, IRS, in his speech, dwelled on how goods and products for the international market (import and export), could be done only through designated custom stadiums notified by the central government. For North east, he said the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Amingaon, Guwahati, allows goods and products to be imported and exported to international market.
Earlier, keynoted address was delivered by joint director and HOO, MSME Development Institue, Tali Longchar, while virtual messages were delivered by chairman and managing director, NEDFi, PVSLN Murty, deputy general manager-SME, SBI, Prithvijit Das, asst. general manager, SIDBI, Ghty, Ashim Baidya, and several others.
A short message was also addressed by superintendent, ICD Amingaon, Ghty, Nobinchandra Singh, while vote of thanks was offered by deputy director, ICC, Pranjal Barua.
- Nagaland Post
