Wales will be the partner country for the ensuing 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, a development reflecting the growing global appeal of the annual festival held every year in December.

The USA, Germany, Columbia were the Country Partners while Assam was the State Partner in the last edition of the festival, one of the biggest cultural festivals in the country.

The festival has been organised by the Nagaland government since 2000 between December 1 and December 10 every year to showcase and promote the best of Naga culture, cuisines and music to the world. It had attracted 1,54,057 visitors and tourists from within the country and abroad. The 2022 edition had seen a footfall of 1,40,299 visitors.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio visited Wales this week to sign Wales as a partner in the festival, marking the end of Wales in India 2024, a year-long series of celebrations and events to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The Welsh Government, the British Council, and Wales Arts International representatives met Rio at the British Council offices in Cardiff on Monday to sign the partnership agreement. Rio also met deputy first minister of Wales and cabinet secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies MS, an official statement said.

Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, said: “We are delighted that the Hornbill Festival is part of the Wales in India 2024 celebration of Two Nations of Culture and Innovation. We have had a long association with the festival and are looking forward to bringing artists and speakers from Wales for the festival to collaborate, exchange ideas and inspiration and showcase their work to audiences in Nagaland as one of India’s most spectacular festivals celebrates its 25th anniversary.”

As part of his visit to Wales, Rio held talks with the newly-appointed minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS.

Rio spoke of his appreciation to the Welsh Government and the British Council for the opportunity to visit Wales to discuss their partnership with the Hornbill Festival and was confident “this partnership will strengthen ties between our two countries and increase people-to-people contact and open opportunities for young people”.

The chief minister and his delegation also visited the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the School of Sport and Health Sciences at the Cardiff Metropolitan University. Rio said: “We will be exploring avenues for students from Nagaland to embark on courses at these impressive universities as well as for musicians and artists to perform in Wales.”

The chief minister’s delegation included Advisor to Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu; Advisor to the Chief Minister, Abu Metha; Commissioner & Secretary to Chief Minister, Kesonyu Yhome and Press Relations Officer to Chief Minister, Rusemtong Longkumer.

Metha told The Telegraph that partner countries participate in several programmes. “They bring performers and artists for the music and arts festivals. International artists collaborate with Nagaland and Indian artists. They also participate in various verticals like film, literature, education and academics, business and investment roundtables,” he said.