The National Integrate, Innovate, and Expand (NIIE) Business Summit, organised by the Business Association of Nagaland, and supported by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), began at the administrative block of the Northeast Region Agri Expo in Dimapur on November 4.

The summit specifically deliberated on local employment opportunities for youth. The discussion was moderated by the BAN general secretary and Pinnacle Skills chief executive, Dr. Yan Murry.

The first session had five panellists, namely, Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission Chief Operating Officer (Skills) Menuoneiuto Chadi, Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Assistant Labour Commissioner T Chubayanger, ELS International Chief Executive Officer Achen Imchen, Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers’ Union President Pele Khezhie, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Nagaland, and consultant of engineering projects for the Government of India, Dr Nzan Ngullie.

Expressing his views, Ngullie pointed the three sectors that Naga youth could explore for employability. He noted that the construction sector was becoming increasingly mechanized, adding that youth must be technically trained or skilled so that they are not left behind. Ngullie further suggested that Nagas should explore the agricultural sector for employment instead of trying to go out for jobs in the hospitality sector.

Imchen clarified that from the first day of his entrepreneurial journey, he had tried his best to employ Nagas. He added that it made him feel secure and happy to share opportunities with his own people. He further suggested that the state government should carry out awareness drives among local employers, pointing out that Nagas are talented and fast learners.

Further, Chadi observed that only about 20 percent of skilled Naga youth remained, while the rest left the state in spite of visible job opportunities here.

Finally, Khezhie commented in his address that contractors could provide jobs to Naga youth, but the latter needed to have proper skills. He claimed that many Naga contractors were compelled to bring in hundreds of labourers from outside the state since the local youth were not willing to work. Dr. Yan Murry, who was moderator for the first session, said Nagaland was considered the state with the highest unemployment rate (21 percent), warning that it was a ticking time bomb for the Nagas.

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