‘Hornbill Festival – a platform to build cohesive relationships’, says Nagaland Tourism Minister

November 29, 2024 0 View No Comment

Morung Express news
Kohima | November 29

Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along has asserted that through the Hornbill Festival, the government is giving its people a platform to network and build cohesive relationships with the rest of the world and country while showcasing the bests in our state.

Speaking during the opening of Central Plaza Shopping mall cum Carnival at PR Hill Kohima, he said that it is one opportunity that one chooses to take and went on to call people not to always look for negativity.

“The Hornbill festival is not only about drinking zütho, eating pork or merry making,” he said adding that this platform provided by the government gives its people a platform to network and build cohesive relationships with the rest of the world and country. It is to showcase the best of who we are- culturally, traditionally, through art and music, sports, organic vegetation, skills and thought processes, he stated.

“The government or Tourism Department cannot get into the heart of the people or decide the heart of the people.” For entrepreneurs, he said, the State government has made efforts to connect the state with international and state partners like United Kingdom, United States, Peru and Japan or states like Telengana, Sikkim.

These partners are not coming in to look at us but are coming in to partner with us with their corporate, their arts and music and their skills for us to harness, he asserted.

On a different note, Minister Along pointed out that contribution of private individuals will in turn contribute to the fast growing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is more than 11% at present.

He underlined how the government of the day in making efforts in the very aspect in which our state Nagaland and Kohima are developing is partnering and partnership for all of us.

The Minister meanwhile encouraged people to appreciate and stand out for each other despite being in different sectors and coming from varying sections of the society both in government or non-government.

He opined how the same location has now been transformed into such a multipurpose building where the purpose not only serves as a multi parking level that delivers in easing parking woes of the capital but have given a grand mall to not just to Kohima but the state.

He called to make it this complex a place of growth to network with one another, or promote local products and talents not just of friends but of villagers and encouraged the young business owners or the stakeholders to consistently keep updating and to dream, aspire and plan.

Speaking about the sad affairs of doing business, he lamented how we lack passion and patience.

“We Nagas if we don’t succeed in 15 days, we jump to another part,” adding how we fail to excel in one particular field.”

He also said that rich people put in lakh and crore of money for their children to open business which opens very fast but shuts down faster.

“This happens because they do not know the value of the input that is determined for the success of a venture which is to grow well with the idea of entrepreneurship and should continue with consistency and passion,” the Minister underscored.

Minister Along went on the call entrepreneurs on the need to chart the journey of working consistently and being smart and doing it well at the same time by being resilient and hardworking. He noted that success is measured not by the money earned but by the satisfaction that they will get in their heart as they are able to cheer their own business.

When people know you and come to the shop, then you have passed the mark. It will be because of the remark you have put in the business, the speaker.

Rhovelü Soho, Proprietor ‘Rho.Lè Enterprise’ Central Plaza and Awardee for Women leaders in Skill Development delivered a speech. Central Plaza, Management Board Chairman, Medozeu Rio delivered welcome address, special song was presented by Nourhengunuo Zatsu and vote of thanks was gven by Khrietuo Yhome, Secretary, Management Board, Central Plaza.