Mokokchung may be growing and progressing slowly, but the town is steadily expanding its commercial reach and supplying goods to several districts across Nagaland, Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Tsukti Longkumer said on Wednesday.
Speaking during the inaugural function of Osail Mart, Longkumer said Mokokchung has gradually expanded over the years, while also developing its importance as a commercial centre.
“Mokokchung is a town that grows and progresses slowly,” he said, “ but at least, it is a town that progresses upwards.”
Recalling the earlier extent of Mokokchung town, he said the town was once considered to stretch from Cosmos Hall to Sungkomen BOC, Imkongmeren Sports Complex and Sewak Gate, but has since expanded slowly over the years.
“We get everything in Mokokchung Town,” Longkumer said, adding that the town’s commercial reach now extends beyond the district.
“For most of Nagaland, it is only Dimapur but things like nails and chainsaws are being bought from Mokokchung and sent to Dimapur,” he said.
“In fact, Mokokchung is one town that does not depend upon Dimapur for our basic needs,” he added, saying this points to a growing importance for Mokokchung to play a better role.
Longkumer further highlighted Mokokchung’s reach into neighbouring districts, saying the town is able to provide for areas of Wokha near Doyang, Zunheboto around Lumami and Akuluto, as well as Tuensang, Longleng, Mon, Shamator, Kiphire and Noklak.
“All these districts comes to buy goods from Mokokchung,” he said.
He described the circulation of money through Mokokchung as being equivalent to that of other successful commercial hubs and encouraged the town to step up and be better prepared, particularly in view of its strategic location in terms of the market.
Longkumer also spoke about the changing business environment between Mokokchung and Dimapur. He said Dimapur’s biggest challenge was multiple taxation by different political groups and claimed that, as a result, Dimapur is now looking towards Mokokchung in terms of business.
The MCCI president also welcomed the opening of a new wet market for fish in Mokokchung, recalling that in earlier years fish were not allowed to enter the town for four to five months due to formalin contamination.
“I was the happiest learning about the new wet market for fish,” he said.
His remarks came during the inauguration of Osail Mart, where the new wet market forms part of the town’s expanding retail and market infrastructure.