The 2026 Naga New Year Festival was held in Leshi Township, Naga Self-Administered Zone on January 15 and for the development of Nagaland, 53 projects were implemented with Union funds and 208 projects with region-approved funds in the 2025-2026 FY, and five billion kyats were also invested from the National Economic Development Fund, said General Maung Maung Aye, Member of the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) and Union Minister for Defence.
General Maung Maung Aye said that since Nagaland is a peaceful region, the state is fulfilling the needs of each sector, and in the 2025-2026 FY, 53 projects were implemented with Union funds and 208 projects with region-approved funds were implemented for the development of Nagaland. The National Economic Development Fund has also provided a capital investment of 5 billion kyats to invest in agriculture, livestock, and other productive industries to develop the socio-economic lives of the people of Nagaland. The stability and peace in Nagaland have enabled the region to develop more and more each year. Therefore, regional stability and peace are very important and the people of Nagaland have the responsibility to maintain this stability. In the transportation sector, the state government has been able to construct the 2,628-foot-long reinforced concrete Chindwin River Bridge (Htamanthi), which has improved transportation between Homalin and Khamti districts and Nagaland, which will help speed up the flow of goods and contribute greatly to the social development of the local people.
He said that the government is providing and distributing high-quality seedlings that are compatible with the water and soil conditions of the region for the development of the agricultural sector and that local farmers also need to choose and apply planting methods in accordance with the changing climate. He urged the locals to focus on crop rotation on the farm to increase the crop production capacity for local food security. Nagaland needs to change from shifting cultivation to modern terrace farming. He also urged the locals to expand the cultivation of perennial crops such as yam, tea, damson, avocado, grapefruit, and oranges that are compatible with the natural environment. He urged the locals to develop micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) based on agriculture and livestock to produce one product per region, and if local raw materials can be produced as high-value products, the local economy will be stronger. He also urged the locals to produce a large number of quality products of each type rather than producing a variety of products. The education and health sectors are the lifeblood of regional development. The education policies that have been set to improve the education sector include providing basic education to every school-age child, He said that the government is implementing effective measures to improve school retention and grade transition, reduce the dropout rate before the end of the academic year, and ensure that every citizen completes basic education (KG+ to Grade 9) within the specified period. Parents and the public have actively supported and participated in these efforts. In the health sector, doctors and nurses are being appointed to local hospitals and clinics, and medical supplies are being provided. The indigenous people of the region are aware of the annual progress made in the education, health, and transportation sectors of Nagaland under our government. He also expressed his special gratitude to the administrative organizations, civil servants, and all the indigenous people who participated in this progress.
Then, the Patron U Hla Tun of the Naga’s traditional literature and culture central committee and Chairman of Township Committee U San Mya presented a commemorative gift to the Union Minister.
The SSPC member Union Minister for Defence, the Union ministers and officials presented aid for regional development to the Chairman of the Management and Administration Body of the Naga Self-Administered Zone, U Tun Tun Win. The Union Minister and members toured the traditional culture galleries and departmental galleries, which were explained by the officials.
The ceremony was attended by the Union Ministers, U Khin Maung Yi, Dr. Thet Khaing Win, Sagaing Region Chief Minister U Myat Kyaw, Lt. Gen. Ni Lin Aung from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), Deputy Minister Maj-Gen Phyo Thant, Region Ministers, Chairman of the Management and Administration Body of the Naga Self-Administered Zone, U Tun Tun Win, and officials.
