Nagaland’s first women-centric Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centre was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Integrated Business Hub & Innovation Centre (IBHIC), Forest Colony, Dimapur, marking a Rs 6 crore private-sector investment aimed at creating up to 500 IT-enabled jobs for women in the State.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and the JSW Foundation under the JSW Shakti program. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the facility as Special Guest.
Described as the first-of-its-kind women-focused BPO facility in Northeast India, the centre begins operations with an initial seating capacity of 150 and will employ around 125 women in its first phase, with expansion plans targeting up to 500 employees in the coming months.
Speaking at the inauguration, Rio said the project represents more than the opening of a new facility, calling it a step toward inclusive, technology-driven economic growth in Nagaland.
He said the partnership reflects a shared vision of strengthening skills, expanding employment opportunities, and positioning the State within the growing digital service economy. Emphasising Nagaland’s youth as its “greatest strength,” Rio noted their English proficiency and adaptability as key advantages in the global services sector.
The Chief Minister highlighted that structured employment opportunities such as the BPO would enhance women’s financial independence while helping reduce outward migration of young professionals seeking work outside the State.
IDAN Chairman Abu Metha stated that nearly Rs 6 crore has been invested in the first phase of the project by JSW Foundation and JSW Shakti, led by Sangita Jindal. He said the facility was conceptualized and completed within six months, reflecting coordination between the Government and private sector partners.
Metha said the initiative is designed to create sustainable employment within Nagaland so that young women need not migrate to distant cities under uncertain conditions.
Rahul Dev, Chief Operating Officer of JSW Shakti Foundation, said the Foundation operates across 11 states and 15 districts nationwide and focuses on sectors including education, skill development, health, and livelihoods. He noted that while JSW Shakti centres are operational in states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and West Bengal, the Dimapur centre marks the Foundation’s first women-centric BPO in the Northeast.
According to project officials, the collaboration between IDAN and the Foundation -formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding – is structured around three pillars: skills, technology and employment. The centre is expected to strengthen the service economy in the region while promoting digital inclusion and workforce participation among women.
The program concluded with the ceremonial presentation of engagement letters to selected candidates and the formal ribbon-cutting of the facility.