Nagaland Connect 2026, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conclave organised by the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), has secured commitments worth more than Rs 30 crore for development initiatives in the State.
The event, held at Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, brought together over 40 companies and resulted in the exchange of 15 Letters of Interest and formal commitments in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers TR Zeliang and Y. Patton, ministers, and advisors.
The conclave was themed “Forging Partnerships, Creating Impact” and was organised in collaboration with CSRBox to strengthen CSR partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding, Letters of Intent and Statements of Commitment.
Addressing the conclave, Chief Minister Rio positioned Nagaland as an emerging investment destination rather than a recipient of aid. “Nagaland today is not merely a destination for assistance, it is a destination for opportunity,” he said, adding that CSR should be viewed as “an instrument of equity” and not just a compliance requirement.
He highlighted priority sectors including education, healthcare, livelihoods, sports, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment and youth development. Rio also noted that the State has created a single-window CSR facilitation system through IDAN. “Today, I invite you not merely to invest in projects, but to invest in people and possibilities,” he said.
IDAN Chairman and Advisor to the Chief Minister Abu Metha described Nagaland as a frontier State with significant potential but limited CSR inflow compared to more developed regions. He urged companies to focus on underdeveloped regions, noting that development gaps remain wide.
The conclave included a CSRBox session on emerging CSR trends, followed by formal exchange of partnership commitments. According to organisers, the roundtable focused on six priority sectors, including health, education, rural development, environment, youth development, and gender inclusion, with digital access identified as the most under-served area.
IDAN, acting as the State’s nodal agency, said it will provide project identification, regulatory facilitation, monitoring and a dedicated liaison system to support CSR partners.
The event concluded with a networking session aimed at building long-term collaboration between corporates and the State government for sustainable development.
