Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu with others during the inaugural session of the Export State Summit 2026 at the Rhododendron Hall, Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima on March 6.
No ‘khushi-khushi’ in business: Advisor for Industries & Commerce at Export State Summit 2026
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | March 6
Nagaland may have ranked high on the Export Preparedness Index, but entrepreneurs cannot afford to rest on laurels alone, according to Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Export State Summit 2026, she urged entrepreneurs to leverage the state's status as the top-ranking Northeastern state in the NITI Aayog index to generate tangible economic growth.
The 2-day summit, organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce and Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC) under the RAMP scheme, Ministry of MSME, began on March 6 at the Rhododendron Hall, Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima.
Jakhalu noted that the state was also ranked third nationwide among small states in the index released by the Niti Aayog in January 2025. “Now our job is to make sure that our young people understand the (the significance of) position, and leverage and make sure that it is converted into very, very successful businesses,” she said.
She said that the Department of Industries and Commerce is also doing its part to facilitate and ensure that the required “ecosystem” is put in place. On February 5, the Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata,
The agreement includes setting up an Export Facilitation Centre to assist local businesses with international trade requirements. Under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme, the department has trained approximately 15,000 MSMEs across the districts and is currently identifying the “top 750 entrepreneurs” for mentorship over the coming months.
Jakhalu further noted what she described as a “khushi-khushi’ approach– a casual tendency to approach business and its norms by local entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, she said that global markets require strict adherence to compliances and certifications, unlike local markets. “We don’t like systems. We don’t like book-keeping. We don’t like managing a business the way a business should be managed,” she said.
She highlighted the efficiency of private enterprise compared to government spending. Citing figures from the Education Department, she noted the government spent nearly Rs 10,000 crores over five years, with 80-85 percent of the amount going to salaries. In contrast, she told the gathering, “You are the ones who are keeping the local economy alive,” often with far less capital.
She asserted that realising the ‘Viksit Nagaland 2047' relies not on government officials alone, but on the entrepreneurs, stating that the developed community of the future will be a result of their contributions.
Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Kumar Ramnikant, said that the two-day summit has been designed to strengthen Nagaland’s export ecosystem with special focus on the handicrafts and handloom, and food processing sectors. He added that the summit aims to generate actionable strategies for export readiness in handicrafts and food processing “where our state possesses both cultural heritage and significant commercial potential.”
According to him, Nagaland’s indigenous spices possess a “unique appeal in niche markets,” while handlooms align with global demands for sustainability.
