New Delhi played host to the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025, where Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio actively engaged with corporate leaders, foreign delegations, and private investors. His mission: to position Nagaland as a prime destination for business and investment in the burgeoning North East region.
Nagaland: Open for Business
CM Rio emphasized Nagaland’s dedication to fostering an investor-friendly environment. He highlighted the state’s commitment to ease of doing business through streamlined single-window clearances, simplifying the investment process. Rio also touted Nagaland’s “strong talent pool,” attributing it to one of the highest literacy rates in India.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rio extended an invitation to prospective partners: “We invite corporate partners and investors to join us in our shared mission of nation-building,” framing Nagaland as a key player in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Showcasing Northeast’s Textile & Handicraft Potential
During a technical session titled “Threads of Heritage: Textiles, Handlooms & Handicrafts in Focus,” CM Rio passionately articulated the North East Region’s (NER) immense potential in textiles and handicrafts. He called for a concerted effort to elevate these traditional crafts to global recognition.
Rio’s social media posts described the summit as more than just a business gathering; he termed it “a celebration of a living legacy, weaving tradition and opportunity, and a tribute to the region’s culture and potential.” He underscored the NER’s rich diversity, noting it as “a tapestry of stories, woven with the threads of over 200 tribes and 192 languages.” He emphasized that the region’s crafts are not merely artistic expressions but also symbols of “resilience, creativity, hope, and empowerment,” with over 70% of artisans being women.
Despite the NER contributing over three-fourths of India’s handicraft output, Rio pointed out a significant untapped opportunity: it currently accounts for less than 1% of national handicraft exports.
Nagaland’s Focus on Quality & Market Readiness
Dr. Rio detailed Nagaland’s proactive steps to ensure its handloom and handicraft products meet international standards. The state government is actively working on quality control for yarn, color, and handloom production. Furthermore, collaborations with tribal hohos (organizations) and women’s groups are aimed at standardizing designs, preserving authenticity, and ensuring fair pricing, ultimately designed to make Naga handlooms market-ready and boost weavers’ incomes.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the pivotal support from the central government’s “Act East” policy and the Ministry of Textiles (@TexMinIndia), which he credited with transforming the region’s textile ecosystem through various schemes. He highlighted that the handloom and handicrafts sector is a major employer in the NER, providing livelihoods to nearly 25 lakh artisans, making it the second-largest economic activity after agriculture.
Describing the region as a “goldmine for investors,” Rio emphasized key advantages, including a skilled workforce, 100% FDI in textiles, and various government subsidies and tax reimbursements. He reiterated that the growth of the handloom sector plays a crucial role in employment generation and poverty reduction.
Rio concluded his address with a powerful metaphor, urging collaboration: “Together, let us thread the needles of progress and stitch a brighter, bolder future for the region.”
Nagaland’s Vision for a Prosperous Northeast
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s proactive engagement at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 underscored Nagaland’s serious commitment to economic growth and its pivotal role in the region’s development. By actively courting investors and highlighting the state’s investor-friendly policies, skilled workforce, and rich cultural heritage, CM Rio effectively showcased Nagaland as a strategic gateway to the burgeoning Northeast Indian market.
The summit served as a critical platform to not only attract investment but also to champion the vibrant textile and handicraft sector, which holds immense, yet largely untapped, global potential. Rio’s emphasis on quality control, standardization, and empowering local artisans, particularly women, reflects a holistic approach to sustainable economic development. With continued central government support and a collaborative spirit among stakeholders, Nagaland is well-positioned to leverage its unique strengths and thread a brighter, more prosperous future for the entire Northeast. The call to “stitch a brighter, bolder future for the region” resonates as a powerful invitation for both domestic and international investors to become part of Nagaland’s exciting growth story.