For Jesmina Zeliang, Nagaland’s sole exporter of handicrafts and textile, business has boomed in the last one year despite the Covid 19 pandemic.Not only is Zeliang the only exporter of handicraft in the state, she is the only woman to be running an export house.

“For us, export markets and orders have just become larger even as Covid impacted economic activities. There have been no interruptions in orders. Actually, for us orders from European countries including France, Spain and Germany among others have been pouring in,” Zeliang told India Narrative. 

Zeliang, whose aim is to showcase Nagaland’s rich tradition and keep up the cultural legacy, runs two businesses — Cane Concept and Heirloom Naga, employs over 600 people. While over 150 people are engaged with Cane Concept, more than 450 women are associated with Heirloom Naga.

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She is now supplying products to at least 20 countries. “With the increase in demand, we have had to go in for hiring more people. I try to hire as many women as possible. I am proud of the fact that I am a woman and I am the only exporter of handicraft in Nagaland,” Zeliang said, adding that she has already firmed up her expansion plans.

Zeliang also said that businesses in the north-eastern states have been receiving regular government assistance during these critical months under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) under the ministry of micro small and medium enterprises.

“Support through SFRUTI has given the much-needed fillip to the businesses in the state and other neighbouring areas. Though for us, the assistance under SFURTI had been initiated just prior to the Covid outbreak, there has no disruption during the peak of the pandemic,” she said, adding that the economic development in the region has been a steady affair.

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“By bringing doorstep employment to our women, we believe that this not only stems migration and encourages a circular economy but most importantly, it encourages our women to be stakeholders in continuing their traditional legacy,” the proud entrepreneur said while describing one her businesses.

The northeast region is now the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the renewed push towards the Act East policy. “We are determined to increase connectivity with the northeast and bring it to the mainstream. Various companies including the foreign firms from Japan and South Korea have already zeroed in on the region,” an industry source said.

Connected through a narrow stretch of land—the Chicken’s Neck near Siliguri, the northeastern region is of strategic importance to India as it borders countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar besides Tibet.

For the first time, five ministers from the north-eastern states including Tripura have been inducted in Modi’s Cabinet after the reshuffle. “This shows how important the region has become for the Centre,” an insider said.