A brain storming session over lunch with Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya on Destination Northeast: Explore the Unexplored Meghalaya

A closed-door roundtable interaction with Shri Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya was organised at FICCI to discuss about investment opportunities in the North-eastern region of India, with special focus on Meghalaya. It was chaired by FLO President, Ms Harjinder Kaur Talwar and attended by a select group of Past Presidents and Governing Body members. While welcoming Shri Sangma and the board members, FLO President Ms Harjinder Kaur Talwar commended that Meghalaya was recognised as the favourite emerging destination in India at the Conde Nast Traveller India readers Awards 2019 held in ITC Maurya New Delhi last week.

North-Eastern region is perhaps the most untapped minefield of potential resources. This land of natural abundance has a host wonders to offer for entrepreneurs. The north-eastern states are also well endowed with mineral deposits, natural landscapes and forests, tea estates, and oil and natural gas – offering great scope for services, industrial, and manufacturing investments. Ms Talwar added, “Meghalaya has immense potential in terms of tourism with a huge diversity in terms of natural beauty, art, crafts, culture and food.

It is endowed with abundant natural resources in terms of flora, fauna, coal and limestone. As the oldest business chamber catering to women empowerment, we would like to work closed with the women entrepreneurs of the region specifically. We should join hands and create political, social as well as economic awareness and encourage the northeaster women to grow out of their shells and connect them to their counterparts from rest of the states.”

Mr. Conrad Sangma expressed his keen interest in joining hands with FLO and updated everyone present about the business opportunities in Meghalaya. To boost tourism and trade, there is a big emphasis on creating infrastructure. The Government of Meghalaya is working on connecting the state better via air. The state is ready to do the viability gap funding for the same. Hotels groups like Taj is opening up with 200 rooms and Marriot with over 250 rooms. DONER Ministry has funded the building of a performing arts theatre in the region. A six-lane highway is under construction.

Shri Sangma said that the Meghalaya government and Salon International de’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) Group organized the first edition of North East Food Innovation Exhibition, 2019 in Shillong recently, which he aims to turn into the largest Food exhibition in the South East Asia.

Women’s health is in the focus as the state suffers a high rate of mortality of women during delivery and child mortality rates during birth and due to poor nutrition are high as well. The state has made interventions and stated an app named MOTHER to help women in the remotest of areas. He also informed that there is single window clearance in the state and land available on lease for 30, 60, 90 years.   He ended by thanking all present and hoping that the members of FLO would be interested in tourism and investment in the state.

President FLO proposed that the government could look at setting up of women’s IT or entrepreneurial park in the state giving boost to women entrepreneurship in manufacturing in the orange and purple segment. FLO has experience in starting a similar park in Telangana and can help the state start one.

Participants from FLO:

1. FLO President: Harjinder Kaur Talwar, Founder and CEO, Comvision India Pvt Limited, and into Smart Cities and Intelligent traffic systems.
2. Past President: Usha Agarwala, Director, RV Brics and Co. Pvt Ltd, Mineral testing company
3. YFLO Delhi Chairperson: Mandira Lamba, Director, Blueprint 12 Gallery and interested in the Tribal art
4. Governing Body Member: Saloni Mehta, Owner, A&A Enterprises and she was interested in setting up distilleries, educational institutions and setting up a newspaper
5. Governing Body Member: Jyoti Mayal, President of Travel Association
6. Governing Body Member: Ruchika Gupta, Director, Sanmarg Pvt Ltd was interested in expanding the press to a state in Northeast of the country due to proximity.
7. Julie Deb, Founder, Midori and works to connect the North East to other parts of the country through art and textiles.

FICCI Invitee:

1. Mr Manish Singhal, Deputy Secretary-General, FICCI