Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 154/23

3 DAY MEGHA STARTUP EXPO

The first ever 3 day Megha Startup Expo in the region is being held at the NEHU Campus of Tura, West Garo Hills in a grand scale amidst huge participation by budding entrepreneurs and various departments of the prestigious University. The significant event is being organized from October 3rd to October 5th 2023 by BIRAC BioNEST Bioincubator (B3I) Facility, NEHU, Meghalaya in collaboration with Prime Startup Hub Meghalaya and BRTC KIIT TBI, Odisha.

The 3 day mega event was inaugurated by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma in the presence of eminent academicians and personalities NEHU Vice Chancellor Professor P S Shujka, Head and Associate Professor, RDAP, Dr B K Mishra, Director, NEHU, Tura, Professor Sujata Gurudev, GM and Head, Technical department, BIRAC, New DelhiDr P K S Sarma, DR R and D, KIIT University and CEO, KIIT, TBI, Odisha Dr Mrutyujay Suar and DDM, NABARD, West Garo Hills, Kitt Miller Sangma.

The primary objective of the Expo is to provide a platform for Startups, Agripreneurs, rural entrepreneurs, innovators and industries to showcase their farm produce, processed products, technologies and services. The event aims to sensitize stakeholders about the facilitation available from enablers, funding opportunities and market demand. The mega event will also enable stakeholders in fostering connections with the broader value supply chain and offer networking opportunities with investors, buyers, branding, marketing and packaging partners.   

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma addressing the inaugural session expressed his pleasure in being able to attend the event and termed the expo a unique stage for the advancement of entrepreneurs. Sangma lauded the efforts of NEHU and its Vice Chancellor for facilitating the creation of capable human resources for a vibrant state through such measures. The Education Minister urging the youth to strive to become industrious he stated that it was time to steer the nation towards prosperity by developing the capabilities of the youth. 

Press Release No. 155/23

WOMEN BIO ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME

The Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) and Bio Resources Development Centre (BRDC), Upper Shillong has today organized the Women Bio Entrepreneurship Programme Orchid Floriculture at Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre, Nongdiengan under the title of the project Setting up of BioNEST Incubator to develop women Bio Entrepreneurship through orchid floriculture in Meghalaya with its objectives, Commercial Productive of Dendrobium Orchids. The goals of the project are capacity building and training of targeted women Bio Entrepreneurs and farmer from different parts of Ri Bhoi district, infrastructural development of Poly house with procurement of planting material and maintenance, transfer state of the art horticultural practices and BioEntrepreneurial skill to targeted women through exposure trips, hands on packaging, marketing and industry linkage, creation of employment opportunities and new economic activities and to map Ri Bhoi as an orchid cut flower production district of the state. The project is funded by BIRAC BioNEST Scheme under the department of Biotechnology. All together 11 SHGs in the district have been benefited under the project with that of the Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre as the central Hub.

Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Mrs. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare etc. expressed her happiness to see that people who cannot speak can do so through the sign language with the selfless sacrifice and efforts of the Ferrando Institute. She informed that the government would soon take up the matter of the differently abled people regarding their reservation in the government job and others to give them a chance because many a time we can see outstanding performance in many fields equal to that of normal person.

The minister congratulated the organisers for such an important programme being organised to help the rural people particularly women folks to stand on their own feet and to improve their economic life especially at the time when government job is saturated. She encouraged and urged the educated youths to come forward and avail the opportunity offered by the government through such projects since there is huge demand for the cut flowers in the marker especially orchids and this would help them not to depend on government job and since our state is rich in Biodiversity but lack knowledge, we need the educated youths to take up the matter, put more efforts and to start their own job, she added. She informed the gathering that the approach road to the institute would soon be started under the local MLA scheme.

Others speaking on the day were Prof. Pulok Mukherjee, Director, IBSD, Imphal, Shri. Gunanka D.B. IFS, Joint Secretary, Govt. of Meghalaya, Dr. J.K. Shukhla, Scientist i/c IBSD, Meghalaya, Sis. Merly Tom Kizakhayil, Central Hub, Dr. Manoj Modi, Scientist, Dr. C. Lyngdoh, Local MLA and Dr. Junie P. Lyngdor, Sr. Scientist BRDC.