HT Correspondent
DIMAPUR, March 7: In an effort to strengthen Nagaland’s export ecosystem and enhance the performance of MSMEs in the state, a two-day State Export Summit 2026 commenced at the Nagaland police complex in Chumoukedima on Friday.
The summit is structured as an intensive workshop, focusing on food processing on the first day, while handicrafts and handloom will be the main focus on the second day.
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Participants were encouraged to interact closely with the experts to gain practical strategies for expanding their businesses.
Organised by the industries & commerce department under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative, the summit emphasised that entering international markets requires strict adherence to quality standards, certifications and regulatory compliance.
Exporting products involves greater complexity than selling in local markets and entrepreneurs must be prepared to meet global expectations in packaging, branding and product quality, it was stated.
In her keynote address, MLA and adviser to industries & commerce Hekani Jakhalu stressed the importance of strengthening the export ecosystem.
She urged the entrepreneurs to focus on improving product quality, branding and value addition in order to access international markets.
Jakhalu noted that experts from institutions such as the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation were present to provide technical guidance and insights to entrepreneurs.
Highlighting recent achievements, she said Nagaland performed strongly on the NITI Aayog Export Preparedness Index, ranking in the leader category.
Among the northeastern states, Nagaland ranked first and secured the third position among small states in the country, reflecting the government’s efforts to build strong systems and platforms that support export growth, she added.
Chairing the inaugural session, P Tokugha Sema, director, industries & commerce, emphasised the importance of building a strong export-oriented environment that will empower local entrepreneurs and industries to compete in wider markets. The event has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for promoting exports, improving MSME competitiveness and expanding market access for products from Nagaland.
