In order to promote exports and develop regional infrastructure Government of India (GOI) has taken
several initiatives aimed at developing Special Economic Zones in the country. In reference to the same,
Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Limited (NIDC) has identified Dimapur as the location for
the SEZ.
NIDC has sought the clearance from the Ministry of Commerce for the conversion of the EPIP into Special
Economic Zone. The State Government has recommended to the Ministry of Commerce for creation of the
Special Economic Zone where the Ministry has already approved and notified the Agro and Food Processing
Special Economic Zone, (AFSEZ), Ganeshnagar, Dimapur vide No. F.1/149x2007-SEZ dated July 9, 2009.
The Agro & Food Processing Special Economic Zone (AFSEZ) at Ganeshnagar under Dimapur District in
Nagaland is the first and only Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in North East India and one of the few
exclusive Agro Food Products SEZ in India. The Project is planned across an area of 125 acres. The Agro
& Food Processing SEZ would offer a prefect blend of industrial, business and social infrastructure
in the midst of lush and green eco-friendly environment incorporating latest state of the art green
technologies.
The Agro & Food Processing Special Economic Zone (AFSEZ) seeks to capitalize on the abundant
agro-horticulture resources of the North East Region and address the problems of post harvest wastage
and thereby provide a boost to the horticulture and agriculture activities of the North East States with
ready outlet for their produces.
NIDC manages and maintains two Industrial Estates at Dimapur, which were taken over from the State Government in 1976. The Industrial Estates covering a total area of 40 acres has 25 ready built Standard Factory Sheds, which are rented out to industrial units at concessional rates. The sheds are being rented out at concessional rate in order to encourage and promote industrial activity.
Term lending till date has been NIDC's mainstay. Under various schemes, assistance has been advanced to
over 7500 entrepreneurs (March 2013).
NIDC began channeling funds of the National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance and
Development Corporation (NSFDC) from 1992-93 and the National Minorities Development and Finance
Corporation (NMDFC) since 1997-98.
The bulk of the flow of assistance was directed towards the Tiny and Small Scale Sectors including Small
Road Transport Operators (SRTOs)
Term lending has till date been NIDC’s main area of operation. The NIDC had been operating various
refinance scheme of assistance since 1978.
Since 2002-03, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India introduced a scheme for Assistance to States
for Developing Export Infrastructure and other Allied Activities (ASIDE), based on the export
performance of each State and also its growth rate. The objective of the scheme is to involve the States
in the export effort by providing assistance to the State Governments for creating appropriate
infrastructure for the development and growth of exports.
NIDC is the State Nodal Agency for implementation of ASIDE Scheme. The project proposals received from
implementing agencies for developing critical export infrastructure in the State will be approved by the
State Level Export Promotion Committee (SLEPC) for ASIDE, chaired by the Chief Secretary to Govt. of
Nagaland as per the guidelines of the ASIDE scheme.
NIDC was the implementation agency for setting up the Integrated Infrastructure Development Centers (IIDCs) at Kiruphema, Kohima District which was approved by the Central Government with the works been executed by the Engineering Wing of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kohima.
An important aspect of NIDC’s activities has been the creation and expansion of the entrepreneurial
base and providing them support service by sponsoring and organizing training programmes, conducting
surveys and studies to identify industrial potentials and feasibility and other promotional
activities.
NIDC with over the years of experience in the industrial development of the State is well versed with
the local industrial atmosphere and also its inherent problems. NIDC has a pool of experienced and
professionally qualified manpower from commercial, managerial and technical disciplines. Given the
above, NIDC is competent to implement the project without any overrun in terms of cost and time and
would be able to execute the work, meeting the high standards envisaged.