Kohima: The District Industries Centre in Zunheboto hosted a startup awareness event at VDB Hall on October 15. Officials pushed local entrepreneurs to prioritize market research and innovation. They highlighted available government schemes and essential business mentorship opportunities.
Vezito Tetseo of Headhunter Leather Crafting Pvt Ltd led sessions on business incubation and registration via the Startup Nagaland portal. He demanded a mindset shift for new owners. "Entrepreneurship involves innovation and introducing something new that is not readily available in the market," Tetseo said. He pushed for better packaging, branding, and networking to scale products beyond local borders.
Er N Toky Chishi, General Manager of DIC Zunheboto, warned that success requires more than just a good idea. He advised attendees to keep clean banking records and healthy CIBIL scores to guarantee future loan approvals. Customer relations and product quality remain the bedrock of a sustainable venture.
Inspector of Industries and Commerce Ikupu Tuccu detailed the financial lifelines available to small businesses. The Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme offers subsidies reaching 35 percent. The Chief Minister's Micro Finance Initiative provides a 30 percent subsidy through the state government. Additionally, the PM Vishwakarma scheme provides traditional craftspeople with training and 15,000 rupees worth of tools. Tuccu urged business owners to reach out to the DIC or the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland for specific guidance.
Comments