- D Ledia Awomi and L Chuba Lkr from Nagaland won awards at the Ideabaaz Startup Fest 2026, held from August 26 to 30, 2026 in New Delhi, with Awomi receiving the Best Cultural Performance award and Lkr winning the Best Aromatic Plant award.
- Awomi curated an ethnic fashion show at the event, showcasing Nagaland's traditional attire and handlooms.
- Lkr is the proprietor of M/s L.C. Longkumer Agar Processing Unit, which he established in 2016 after his father's death.
- Lkr's father began agarwood plantation in the early 1960s, which laid the foundation for Lkr's future enterprise.
- Awomi's previous work with women's organizations, fashion events, and local movie productions connected her with Ideabaaz.
- Lkr plans to expand his retail presence in Dubai and Bangkok and develop a new grade of agarwood oil made entirely from 100% Nagaland agarwood.
Nagaland entrepreneurs D Ledia Awomi and L Chuba Lkr were recognized at the Ideabaaz Startup Fest 2026 in New Delhi, winning awards for Best Cultural Performance and Best Aromatic Plant respectively. The event, held from August 26 to 30, showcased the rich cultural heritage and innovative agricultural practices of Nagaland.125
Awomi, president of the Ethnic Group of Nagaland (EGON), curated an ethnic fashion show that highlighted traditional attire and handlooms. She expressed her hope that her collaboration with Ideabaaz would further promote Nagaland's culture, stating, “I hope that the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland would be further promoted through future collaborations with Ideabaaz.”
Meanwhile, Lkr, who owns the M/s L.C. Longkumer Agar Processing Unit, received the Best Aromatic Plant Award. He shared that his father initiated agarwood plantation in the 1960s, and after his passing, Lkr established the processing unit to produce agarwood oil. He emphasized his motivation to ensure fair prices for local growers and create job opportunities, saying, “One of my key motivations for starting the enterprise was to ensure fair prices for locally produced agarwood.”346
Lkr noted that Nagaland's agarwood oil is highly valued, being more resinous and aromatic than others. He aims to expand his business internationally, particularly in Dubai and Bangkok, and plans to produce a new agar grade oil made entirely from Nagaland agarwood, a project he described as “very close to my heart.” He also highlighted the challenges of limited distillation capacity in the state, which he believes must be addressed to enhance production.
The Ideabaaz Startup Fest serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and industry experts, featuring exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
“Awomi, president of EGON, curated an ethnic fashion show at the fest, showcasing Nagaland's traditional attire and handlooms. Lkr, proprietor of an agar processing unit, plans to expand retail presence in Dubai and Bangkok and develop a new grade of agarwood oil made entirely from 100% Nagaland agarwood.”
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