Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 210/07

COME AND INVEST IN MEGHALAYA-DR LAPANG

“I am here to invite you to come and Invest in my State, Meghlaya”, said the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr D D Lapang in his speech during the 3rd North East Business Summit held in New Delhi on April 10, 2007 at New Delhi organized by the DONER Ministry and Indian Chambers of Commerce. The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and representatives of Financial Institutions. The Meghalaya Chief Minister was accompanied by the Meghalaya Industries Minister, Mr Nehlang Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary, Mr Ranjan Chatterjee and Commissioner and Secretary Industries, Mr A Som.

Dr Lapang in his speech said that Meghalaya is a convenient location for investments. The North Eastern Region is perceived as a insurgency prone region which is unsafe for investment but he said that the State Government is creating a congenial atmosphere for investors to come and invest in the State in different sectors. He said that insurgency in the State is being dealt with firmness. The people of Meghalaya have already tasted the fruit of industrial development and wants the investment climate to be cordial. Dr Lapang also requested the investors to make their own assessment of the security climate in the State of Meghalaya and they will find that there is no cause to worry. The State Government is ready to enter into dialogue with Industry to take all possible measures to ally fears and endanger a sense of security, he added.

Dr Lapang stated that politically, Meghalaya is stable and inspite of the changes of Government the industrial policy has remained unchanged. A great attitudinal change is evident in the political class and amongst the people in general, he said. Earlier, many political leaders and a sizeable percentage of the local population had opposed to the idea of a rail head at Byrnihat but now Byrnihat has become a hub of industrial activity and the pressure groups are clamouring for expediting the implementation of the rail head project at Byrnihat. Dr Lapang also made a special announcement that the State Government is paying special attention to Garo Hills to improve the security scenario and to attract investment. He said that the Government is acquiring 182 hectares of land at Mendipathar, East Garo Hills to develop into an Industrial Growth Centre.

While informing about the investment opportunities in Meghalaya, Dr Lapang said that Meghalaya is emerging as a major player in the cement and the Ferro Alloy industries. Agriculture and Horticulture produce as well as timber forest produce constitute a vast resource base for the growth of various kind of processing industries. In the Tourism sector, Dr Lapang said that Meghalaya has great untapped potential for the growth of tourism and with proper planning it can be developed into a dream destination of the North East. He also informed that the State government now has a tourism policy under which intending investors can avail themselves of various incentives. In the Health care sector, Dr Lapang informed that Meghalaya is an ideal location for health care enterprises attributing to the strong base of traditional medicine and medicinal plants and herbs. He said that with proper investment and management, the potential of traditional medicine can be fully exploited. National players in modern health care will find Shillong a most attractive destination because of its natural advantages, he added. While making special mention on the prospects of bamboo based units in Meghalaya, Dr Lapang said that the government is taking great interest in schemes to improve the yields of bamboo from forests and plantations, to harness new technologies for bamboo based enterprises and to replace traditional tools used by craftsmen with modern, efficient tools. He also informed that a separate cell for bamboo has been opened in the state headquarter of the department of forest and environment and with the help of international agencies and cooperation of the industry, it is hopeful to make bamboo the largest single provider of jobs and income in the State, he opined.

With regard to Information Technology, Dr Lapang said that Meghalaya has ample scope in the sector stating that the English speaking population in the State is an asset for IT enabled service providers who would like to set up their units in the State. He said that with the proposal for setting up of an IT park in Shillong by STPI, New Delhi, investors should find Meghalaya an attractive destination for IT enabled service.

Dr Lapang, who is also Chairman of the Single Window Agency, informed that for speedy clearances of industrial proposals in the State, the State Government has set up the Single Window system. He said that the MIDC acts as a nodal agency for providing all assistance including subsidies and incentives. He informed that the organisation also provides loans for industries and services to a limited extent. He also informed that the MIDC has not defaulted in the repayment of loans taken from financial institutions such as the IDBI and the SIDBI. He said that the excellent record of the MIDC hopes to attract finance from various financial institutions and agencies connected with the financing of industrial and service enterprises nationally.

It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr D D Lapang on April 9, 2007 has also met the Mrs Sonia Gandhi in her residence where she congratulated Dr Lapang on his taking over as the chief minister of the State and said that he should ensure that development takes place in the State.