The Café Hornbill was formally inaugurated by the Advisor, Department of Land Resources, G Ikuto Zhimomi, on November 29, 2023, in the presence of Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of IDAN.
In his inaugural speech, Ikuto lauded and acknowledged the Chief Minister of Nagaland for his dynamic and visionary leadership in organizing the Hornbill Festival, which has now become one of the most popular festivals globally. The Advisor emphasized that the Hornbill Festival has evolved beyond being merely a cultural extravaganza; it has become the largest industry in the state, providing employment avenues and various other benefits. He further encouraged the youth and youngsters of the state to embrace modern farming practices and venture into coffee entrepreneurship, from modernized farming to marketing, with a serious approach.
Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of IDAN, who also graced the event, praised Architect Richard Belho and his team for the successful completion of the Cafe Hornbill project in just 14 days. He noted that the Hornbill Festival, with the support of the state government, has not only remained a cultural hub but has also reached greater heights globally. Abu highlighted that Nagaland Coffee has become the brand ambassador of Nagaland and expressed hope that Nagaland coffee would gain more recognition at the international level.
The inaugural program was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary, H&FW, V Kezo, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Director, Land Resources, Albert Ngullie.