Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Nagaland is betting big on its youth. The two-day Tech X Gaming Expo 2026 launched on August 28 at the NBCC convention hall in Kohima. Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio used the stage to signal a shift in the state's economic focus. He aims to turn Nagaland into a premier hub for gaming and digital technology in the Northeast.
During the event, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Google. The deal is worth over 100 million rupees. It aims to overhaul school education and push digital literacy. "Technology provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to overcome geographical distances, connect talent with opportunity and enable our youth to participate in the national and global economy without necessarily having to leave Nagaland," Rio told the crowd.
The government is backing this vision with bricks and mortar. They are utilizing an 18,000 sq. ft. STPI centre in Kohima. A new Innovation Hub for startups is coming to Chümoukedima with support from the Ministry of DoNER. Plans for an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence are also in the works. This facility will target agriculture, healthcare, governance, and tourism.
The state is also leaning into unmanned aviation. The Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre is already using drones for disaster risk assessment and infrastructure monitoring. The state's own Drone School is training certified pilots and expects formal Directorate General of Civil Aviation certification shortly.
E-sports remains a primary driver for the state's growth. Officials pointed to the Hornbill E-Sports Championship and Khelo India Youth Games as successful blueprints. The current expo features the Kohima Time Trials of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026. Organizers, led by the Nagaland Esports Society and the state government, want to build careers for designers, data analysts, and developers, not just gamers.
The event featured an invocation by Associate Pastor Kyaden Khaming of Faith Harvest Church. Moalong Longkumer of the Nagaland E-Sports Society delivered the welcome address. Asangla Imti, Commissioner and Secretary for School Education and SCERT, chaired the session.
The Chief Minister’s message to the youth was blunt. He urged them to look past geographical barriers. "The Government can build the infrastructure and create the opportunities. The responsibility to seize them rests with you," he added.
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