Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio launched the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme, Nagaland (CMFPN) and the NEDFi-TEDF Research Project, “Strategic Interventions for Endogenous Development through Export Promotion of Niche Agricultural Products, Advancement in the Creative Economy, and Diversification of Investment in Nagaland,” at the CMRC Conference Hall, Kohima, on September 24, 2026, under the initiative of IDAN in collaboration with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi).
Speaking at the programme, Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio said the two initiatives share a common purpose of identifying Nagaland’s strengths and capacities, understanding emerging opportunities and challenges, and preparing for the future. He said Nagaland has immense potential in agriculture and horticulture, tourism, music, arts, culture, sports and several emerging sectors. He emphasised the need to convert this potential into economic opportunities through enterprise, investment, markets and exports, particularly to create employment opportunities for the people.
He welcomed the focus on the creative economy in the research, noting that Nagaland has artists, musicians, designers, sportspersons, entrepreneurs and young innovators with immense talent. He said the creative economy is not only about culture and entertainment, but also about livelihoods, enterprise, tourism, technology and employment. He said the State’s efforts to create, brand and promote Nagaland, while using its culture and creativity as instruments of economic growth, were important. He added that culture can serve as a bridge between Nagaland’s local identity and national and global platforms.
On the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme, Dr. Rio described it as an investment in human resources and in developing young people who can contribute to Nagaland in the years to come. Addressing the 18 selected fellows, he encouraged them to make use of the opportunity to gain meaningful exposure and interact with policymakers, administrators, professionals and development experts. He stressed that the fellowship should go beyond completing assignments and receiving certificates.
Dr. Rio said the State’s aim was to build a more resilient, innovative and investment-ready Nagaland where resources, people and ideas create opportunities, entrepreneurship and innovation are supported, and private enterprise works alongside public investment. He also emphasised the need for partnerships with private and educational institutions, civil society, development organisations and partners from across India and the world, while remaining rooted in Nagaland’s identity, values and traditions.
Dr. Rio appreciated the efforts of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland, NEDFi and all institutions and individuals involved in bringing the research studies and fellowship programme to fruition. He expressed hope that the research would inform policy, encourage discussion and lead to action, while the fellows would carry forward the experiences, networks and knowledge gained during the programme and find ways to give back to the people. He said Nagaland’s future would ultimately be shaped not only by projects and programmes, but by the people nurtured, ideas encouraged and opportunities created.
Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman, Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Abu Metha said IDAN, in partnership with NEDFi, had undertaken an extensive grassroots study covering all 17 districts, nearly 300 villages and more than 8,000 inputs. The project brought together grassroots perspectives, data and insights from experts, academics, development practitioners, government officials and other stakeholders.
He said the research identified Nagaland’s strengths in agriculture, horticulture, textiles, human capital and the creative economy, while also highlighting gaps in value addition, market linkages and promotion. He expressed hope that the research would go beyond documentation and contribute to policy formulation, strategic planning and concrete action.
Metha highlighted the study on Nagaland’s creative economy, covering music, art, sports, tourism, textiles, handicrafts, handlooms and events. He said the State has placed considerable emphasis on the sector and that Nagaland’s approach has attracted interest from other states and international partners.
On the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme, Metha said the initiative was inspired by his experience with the International Visitor Leadership Programme of the US Department of State in 2014, which demonstrated the value of exposure to global networks, best practices, governance and policy approaches. This led to the idea of developing a fellowship programme suited to Nagaland’s context. He said the CMFPN is fundamentally an investment in people and in Nagaland’s youth. The 18 fellows, selected through an open application and interview process, will receive exposure to government institutions, NGOs and international missions, along with mentorship from senior leaders, bureaucrats and technocrats. The fellows will also undertake assignments and internships with government departments and institutions, gaining practical exposure to flagship programmes and sectors including agriculture, MSMEs, industry, tourism, sports and the Hornbill Festival.
Metha said the objective is to equip the fellows with knowledge, experience and networks so that they can contribute meaningfully to society and become assets to Nagaland. Congratulating the 18 fellows, he urged them to make full use of the opportunity, emphasising that “knowledge and experience gained by one should be knowledge and experience gained by all.” He expressed hope that the CMFPN would serve as a foundation for many more opportunities for young people in Nagaland.
The CMFPN, implemented by the IDAN, was first proposed in 2024 and received an allocation of ₹2.50 crore in the State Budget 2025-26. The programme aims to provide young professionals with practical exposure to governance, public policy and development processes, while creating opportunities for them to contribute their knowledge and skills towards the development of the state.
The programme was chaired by Under Secretary, Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), I. Changsang, NCS, who said the two initiatives brought together a shared commitment towards creating new pathways for development in Nagaland. Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Vineet Kumar, IAS, proposed the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, NEDFi, IDAN, researchers, experts, officers and stakeholders for their contribution towards the initiatives.
(Molungnenla, IA Kohima)
