Nagaland has urged partner countries and states at the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival “to look beyond” the traditional and cultural aspects of the state and delve into the economic prospects and opportunities it has to offer.
Charing a roundtable meeting on the second day of the festival that showcases the best of Naga culture, cuisine, crafts and hospitality, Abu Metha, the chairman of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), said on Monday that the meeting was a platform to forge partnerships, ties and networking with each other.
He called upon the visiting dignitaries to “look beyond the traditional and cultural aspects and delve into the economic prospects and opportunities that Nagaland has to offer” while acknowledging the government of Sikkim for being supportive towards the Hornbill festival and for participating with a large delegation.
Japan, Peru, the US and Welsh (the UK) are the partner countries while Sikkim and Telangana are the partner states of the festival.
Adviser to the state industries and commerce department, Hekani Jakhalu, said the festival was “just a gist of what Nagaland can offer to the world” with its strength lying in the young and talented people “whose creativity and hard work is no lesser than others”.
Seeking to tap into this, the state is looking forward to collaborations and partnerships from investors outside the state which would be a win-win situation for both the stakeholders, she said.
The ambassador of Peru to India, Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, spoke on the importance of people-to-people connections between the Republic of Peru and the Nagas “due to its shared similarities in culture and traditions”. He called upon Peru and the Nagas to continue to “celebrate the wisdom of the indigenous people” and looked forward to partnership and collaboration in areas of common interests.
Joint secretary, IDAN, Reny Wilfred, gave a presentation on areas where Nagaland can build collaboration and partnership with the visiting country and state partners.
