The Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE), located at the Nagaland Integrated Hub for Skills, Kushibill, Dimapur, was inaugurated on 11th September 2026 to strengthen logistics-sector skill development and provide training opportunities for youth in Nagaland.
Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, Planning & Transformation and National Highways, T. R. Zeliang, formally inaugurated the centre. Delivering his address as the Chief Guest, he said that the inauguration of the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) in Dimapur marked an important step towards connecting the aspirations of Naga youth with one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. He said Dimapur had long been the commercial hub and a major gateway of Nagaland by road, rail and air and was increasingly gaining importance as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the Government of India’s Act East Policy.
Highlighting the unemployment situation in the State, Zeliang said that more than 71,000 people were registered as unemployed with the Employment Exchanges, while the actual number could be higher. He noted with concern that 92 per cent of registered unemployed persons lacked formal technical or vocational training, leaving many educated young people without a clear pathway to livelihood.
He said India’s logistics and supply chain sector was expected to grow rapidly in the coming years and that, with proper training and professional guidance, Naga youth could take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the sector. He expressed confidence that the involvement of the Logistics Sector Skill Council, Redington Foundation and Zipaworld Innovation would provide young people with industry-oriented training, national certification and better employment prospects.
Zeliang also welcomed the establishment of COLTE as the first centre of its kind in Nagaland and the Northeast, and said skill development should eventually reach other districts so that opportunities were not confined to Dimapur alone. He congratulated the partner organisations for choosing Nagaland and expressed hope that their initiative would bring a meaningful change to the State’s unemployment scenario. He further thanked the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department and Advisor, Moatoshi Longkumer for their efforts and said the centre would serve as a launchpad for a generation of skilled, confident and employed Naga youth.
Advisor for Labour, Employment & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, in his address as the guest of honour said that the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE) has the potential to become more than just another training institution, as it could serve as an important bridge between the State’s young people and the growing requirements of the logistics industry. He said the Centre would provide opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, industry visits, practical training, training-of-trainers, placement facilitation and specialised programmes designed to meet industry needs.
He emphasised that the logistics sector was expanding rapidly and becoming increasingly specialised, creating a growing demand for skilled manpower in areas such as transportation, warehousing, supply-chain management and distribution. He said the Centre could equip young people with industry-recognised skills and national certification, enabling them to pursue employment opportunities not only within Nagaland but across the country and potentially in international markets.
Longkumer stressed the importance of ensuring that training translated into meaningful employment. He said the partnership behind COLTE should be assessed on the basis of its actual impact, particularly in terms of access, quality of training and employment outcomes. He called for continued engagement with employers and regular monitoring so that training programmes could be adjusted according to changing market requirements.
He encouraged the youth to look beyond government employment, stating that the State government faced financial constraints and could not provide government jobs to everyone. He urged young people to explore opportunities outside the government sector and make full use of the facilities and training being provided through COLTE.
He acknowledged the contributions of CII Nagaland, Redington Foundation and the Logistics Sector Skill Council in bringing the partnership together and investing resources and expertise in Nagaland. He said the Centre’s responsibilities extended beyond classroom training and included building strong industry linkages and ensuring effective placement of trained candidates.
Longkumer further stated that the State government and its partners had a responsibility to create opportunities, while the youth had the responsibility to prepare themselves to take advantage of those opportunities. He expressed hope that COLTE would develop into a strong institution for logistics skills in the Northeast and that the initiative would produce measurable results in the years ahead.
K.V. Mahidhar, Board Member Logistics Sector Skill Council while giving an overview of the logistics sector in India, said the country was witnessing rapid infrastructure development, creating significant opportunities for the logistics sector. He highlighted the importance of logistics policies, integrated planning and digital technology in improving the efficiency of cargo movement and strengthening India’s integration with global supply chains.
He said India had improved its global logistics ranking from above 50 to the 30s and expressed confidence that the country could reach the top 10 in the future. Speaking about the Northeast, he described the region as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and a major growth area.
Mahidhar said the centre would connect education with employment by providing practical training in warehousing, inventory, transport operations and logistics technology. He urged youth to develop digital skills, obtain industry-recognised certifications and continue learning, stressing that they should aim not only to secure jobs but also to create them.
He said a better-connected and more competitive Northeast could be achieved through cooperation among the government, industry, educational institutions and youth. He concluded that Nagaland could become a major source of skilled logistics talent for India and the world, adding that the future of the Northeast was bright and Nagaland’s future even brighter.
B. Ramaratnam, Independent Director, Redington Limited, delivered the opening remarks. He stated that the inauguration of COLTE 3—the Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence in Nagaland—marked an important milestone in addressing the growing demand for skilled manpower in the logistics and supply-chain sector. He said the initiative was the result of a strong public-private partnership involving the Government of Nagaland, Redington Foundation, the Logistics Sector Skill Council and the CII Institute of Logistics.
He highlighted that COLTE had evolved from experiences in Chennai and Hyderabad, with the Nagaland centre designed to meet the specific needs and opportunities of the Northeast. He said the centre would focus on industry-oriented, technology-enabled and outcome-driven training, with emphasis on employment and career progression.
Ramaratnam said the initiative aimed to train around 400 unemployed youth from economically weaker sections every year, with at least 20 per cent participation from women and girls, while creating placement opportunities with starting salaries expected in the range of ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh per annum. He expressed hope that COLTE Nagaland would become a model for the Northeast by connecting young people with skills, employment and wider opportunities, including potential international placements.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also exchanged between the Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC) and Zipaworld Innovation Pvt. Ltd. For international placements.
The programme began with a dedicatory prayer by Rev. C. Lima, followed by the formal inauguration and a guided tour of the facilities led by Ravi Yamarthy, Chief Executive Officer, Logistics Sector Skill Council (LSC). The programme also featured a welcome address by Ravi Yamarthy, Logistics Sector Skill Council.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by Commissioner & Secretary, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Robert Longchari.
(I Tiakumla Ao, IA Dimapur)
