Kohima: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday positioned Nagaland as a strategic and promising investment destination during a special session at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
This marked Nagaland’s first official participation in the prestigious global event, an important milestone in the state’s international outreach.
Addressing the session on “Investment, Tourism and Human Resource Opportunities in Nagaland”, Rio highlighted the state’s gateway position to the ASEAN region, its peaceful environment, and a policy framework geared towards investor confidence.
“From agribusiness and eco-tourism to artisanal crafts, creative industries, and emerging technologies, Nagaland offers first-mover advantage across diverse sectors,” Rio said.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to transparency, single-window clearances, and high governance standards that foster a secure and business-friendly ecosystem.
Rio further underscored Nagaland’s high literacy rate, youthful demographics, and rich cultural heritage as key assets for inclusive and sustainable growth.
He also reassured global stakeholders of the state’s strong record on public safety, social stability, and women’s security, positioning it as an attractive hub for both tourists and investors.
Held every five years since 1851, the World Expo provides a global platform for countries to exhibit their cultural, technological, and developmental ambitions.
The 2025 Osaka edition, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” focuses on innovation, collaboration, sustainability, and human-centric growth.
Following the CM’s address, Abu Metha, Advisor to the chief minister and chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), presented a session titled “Nagaland – The Land of Festivals: Celebrating Culture, Creating Futures.”
Metha spotlighted the state’s dynamic youth population, vibrant cultural scene, and untapped potential across sectors such as music, sports, gaming start-ups, and film production.
He also emphasised the strength of Nagaland’s tertiary sector and progressive policy framework, including the Nagaland Start-Up Policy, Tourism Policy 2024, and UNNATI Scheme 2024.
In parallel business-to-business meetings, Hekani Jakhalu, Nagaland’s Advisor for Industries and Commerce, highlighted the state’s industrial prospects — particularly in food processing, agri-tech, and the start-up ecosystem.
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She cited investor-friendly policies and the high skill level of the local workforce as strong foundations for global partnerships.
Jakhalu expressed optimism about the creative and entrepreneurial energy of Nagaland’s youth, noting their capacity to contribute meaningfully to international collaborations.
The state’s delegation at the Expo reflected a unified effort to position Nagaland on the global economic map while celebrating its cultural richness and future-ready policies.
