Advisor to Chief Minister, Nagaland and Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India, Abu Metha visited Mizoram on the invitation of the Government of Mizoram’s Mizoram Youth Commission (MYC), leading a four Member Official Delegation which included Advisor, Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Government of Nagaland, Theja Meru; President of the Rattle & Hum Foundation (RHF), Neingulie Nakhro and Musician and Creative Producer, TaFMA, Imcha Imchen. The delegation arrived in Mizoram on 23rd October, 2021 and departed on 25th October, 2021. The visit began with the delegation visiting the Laldenga Memorial where they paid homage and laid floral tributes at the memorial of Mizoram’s first Chief Minister and the leader of the Mizo movement. The team called on the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga at his residence. Metha highlighted some of the programmes and initiatives of the Nagaland Government, especially in the areas of youth affairs. He invited Mizoram participants to the forthcoming international events which are going to be hosted in Nagaland like the Asia Music Summit, the South Asian Cross Country Championships and the Grand Finale of the Indian National Rally Championships. He also appreciated the role and contributions of Zoramthanga in the Naga Peace Process and the Chief Minister observed that all sections are hoping for a peaceful and successful resolution of the peace talks. He wishes and prayed for the achievement of peace in Nagaland. Zoramthanga also highlighted the need to work together under a spirit of collaboration between the north eastern states especially Mizoram and Nagaland with special focus in the Agriculture and allied sector, while conveying his best wishes to the people of Nagaland. Metha attended Mizoram’s biggest music event as a special guest and addressed the Grand Finale of the Perhkhuang 2021 which had begun with more than 2,000 participants. In his address Metha assured strengthening of partnerships and collaborations between Mizoram and Nagaland. He announced that the top five winners of the competition would be given the opportunity to perform at India’s most well-known music event, the Hornbill International Music Festival. He assured that all efforts would be made to train the talents of young Mizos and Nagas in joint initiatives in order to propel them towards the highest international levels in order to bring pride and glory to the great nation. The Nagaland delegation participated in a Round Table Meet with the Mizoram Youth Commission wherein deliberations on the subjects of collaborations and knowledge sharing were undertaken. The collaborations would be firmed up along with a visit to Nagaland by the MIzoram Youth Commission. Artists and musicians of Mizoram will undertake capacity building exercises and undergo professional training through the Task Force for Music & Arts, Govt. of Nagaland, through TaFMA’s knowledge partners and the team of national and international resource persons affiliated to TaFMA. Advisor TaFMA, Theja Meru assured support and solidarity to the MYC through partnerships and collaborations between the two Governments. He gave a detailed explanation of TaFMA’s vision and how it is positively impacting not just the musicians and artists but having long term economic and employment generating results. President of the RHF, Neingulie Nakhro, highlighted a unique intellectual property of Nagaland called the Handshake Concert, which has several editions like the International, Nation and Raj Bhavan editions. He informed that this event has taken hundreds of musicians and artists to several international platform and a dozen countries in the past decade. He assured the Govt. of Mizoram that artist and musicians from Mizoram will be given opportunities to perform at the RHF’s upcoming events, which are all organised in partnership with the Indian Embassies in different countries. Metha, who is the Associate Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), had a meeting with the Mizoram Athletic Association and representatives of the Mizoram Olympic Association. He took an update of the sports and athletics activities and assured the full support of the AFI. Metha informed that the AFI is keen to promote athletics in the North East and its vision will begin by hosting the South Asian Cross Country Championships in Nagaland under the aegis of the South Asian Athletics Federation. The AFI will also conduct special training and capacity building for Technical Officials and Coaches for Mizoram and other Northeastern States. Abu Metha who is the Chairman of the Federation of Adventure & Motor Sports Associations of North East had a meeting with the Mizoram Motorsports Association (MIMSA) and discussed strategies to promote motor and adventure sports in the Northeast alongside tourism and the service industry. He highlighted the need to formulate a game plan to begin a Northeast motorsports circuit in view of the fact that there are enormous potentials across the region. He invited MIMSA to the Grand Finale of the Indian National Rally Championships which will be held in Nagaland in 2022. The visit ended with an interactive session with musicians, event managers, music industry representatives from the mainland and representatives of the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and young entrepreneurs of Mizoram. He extended thanks and appreciation to the Government of Mizoram, Chief Minister, Zoramthanga and the Chairman of the MYC for the success of the visit and hoped that the discussions and deliberations will bear positive results in the near future. He also extended his deep appreciation to the people of Mizoram and all the well-wishers for their goodwill and hospitality.                                                                                     (DIPR)