Kohima is set to host the fourth B20 conference of the North East Region from 4-6 April 2023 in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of External Affairs and North Eastern State Governments under India’s G20 Presidency. It is being organized for exploring partnerships among business communities. The first three conferences were held in Imphal, Aizawl, and Gangtok. The conferences are projected to aid the development of critical sectors of the economy in the North East and facilitate economic growth.
The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum representing the global business community. It is among the most prominent engagement groups in the G20, with companies and business organizations as participants. Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in Agriculture and Food Processing, Tourism, and Information Technology will be the main theme of the Kohima conference. Addresses and plenary sessions will be held at the conference, along with business to business (B2B) and business to government (B2G) meetings. The state government is expected to bring attention to the major developments and activities in these fields while highlighting investment opportunities.
In light of the B20 meet, it is pertinent to ask here one question – what’s there in it for Mokokchung? It is true that the state government is responsible for equitable development of the whole state, including Mokokchung, but it is also true that equitable development is not really happening in Nagaland today. Most developmental activities are concentrated around Kohima-Dimapur regions, which is indisputable. With Kohima being the state capital and Dimapur being the commercial hub, these regions undeniably deserve adequate government attention. That, however, does not mean that the rest of the state should be ignored.
At the same time, the rest of the state must also be ready to stand up to the challenge and claim the government’s attention. Here, we must remember that it is the people and not the place that will have to stake the claim because the place, or the land, is inanimate. The development of the place depends on the people of that place. Progress of Mokokchung depends on the people of Mokokchung. Unfortunately, the people of Mokokchung seem to be incapable of staking any claim.
The new Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) has personally written to various business and industrial organizations in Nagaland inviting them to the upcoming G20 Summit to be held in Kohima. How many in Mokokchung received that invite, for instance? None? Nagaland will move ahead. It is up to the people of Mokokchung to show whether we want to move ahead or not. B20 will not come to Mokokchung, but who in Mokokchung will go to the B20? We can either remain satisfied with the crumbs of development thrown from Kohima or prove that we deserve the whole menu. The choice is ours.