Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 5/10

PRESS RELEASE

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr D D Lapang today attended the 2-day 5th North East Business Summit scheduled for the 8th and 9th January 2010 at Kolkata in which the Union Minister of Food Processing, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai was the Chief Guest. The summit was organized by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the Indian Chamber of Commerce. DONER Minister, Mr B K Handique, Assam Chief Minister, Mr Tarun Gogoi and President of the ICC, Mr V Saran were also present among other dignitaries from Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

In his speech, Dr. Lapang said that from its inception, Meghalaya had a vision to become self sustained and aspired to come at par with the other progressive States of the country, adding that the focus was on development and enhancing economic upliftment for the betterment and progress of all the inhabitants of the State. He further stated that the State has shown significant achievement in the field of horticulture, tourism, industrial development, education, IT etc. and this has been possible because of the investment friendly policies of the State and overall support of the Government of India.

With regards to investment scope, Dr. Lapang informed that Meghalaya has enormous potential in infrastructural development: sufficient Agro-Horticulture produces, large reserve of Mineral resources, very conducive for IT and IT related services, in social infrastructure like nursing home, educational institution, pharmaceutical products (herbal) which are already wooing investors to invest in the State.

Dr. Lapang also asserted that the people of the North East are grateful to the Central Government for the constant support with the Vision Document Twenty-20 and NEIIP Policy, adding that the North Eastern States and the business houses are eagerly waiting for the Vision Document and NEIIP to be implement in the region in earnest spirit so that the region can attract more investors by translating those into a reality.

It may also be mentioned that Dr Lapang also met the Ambassador of Royal Kingdom of Thailand, Mr Krit Krai Chitti where in the Ambassador said that the Business delegation from Thailand showed keen interest in investing in the North East particularly in Meghalaya. The Ambassador also said that during the 1st week of February, 2010, a cultural troupe from Thailand will visit the State of Meghalaya.