Kohima, March 12 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio underscored the pivotal role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in bolstering the state’s economy, even as he highlighted the state's growing footprint in the global export market.
Speaking during the ongoing eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on March 10, Dr Rio informed the House that the government is actively promoting enterprise development, particularly in agriculture and allied sectors. This focus has yielded tangible results, with Nagaland securing the third rank among small states in the Export Preparedness Index 2024.
Detailing the state's export success, the Chief Minister revealed that coffee from Nagaland is currently being exported to the UAE, with demand growing from Bahrain, Europe, South Korea, Singapore and Japan. Pineapple and processed king chilli are also being exported to international markets.
While expressing satisfaction with these developments, Dr Rio acknowledged that the MSME sector continues to grapple with persistent challenges, including limited access to credit, bank approvals, and market linkages.
To address these bottlenecks, the state government is collaborating with financial institutions, District Industries Centres, and other stakeholders to ensure timely support for entrepreneurs. He appealed to the legislators to encourage the youth in their respective constituencies to take up entrepreneurship, emphasizing its importance for economic growth and self-reliance.
