‘Local partners must for business venture’

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma

SHILLONG, JUNE 17: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Friday iterated the state government industrial policy that the local people partnership is a must in any business venture by investors from outside the state.

Sangma referred to this particular clause in the state industrial policy while referring to the proposal of M/s Builder & Developer Pvt Ltd that  wants to setup an amusement park at Khanapara.

Sangma told reporters after the 54th meeting of the Single Window Agency (SWA) held on Friday that the industry department has been asked to communicate to the investor that it needs to comply with the state industrial policy.

During the SWA meeting the state government approved 13 investment proposals in the five districts of the state as it also directed preparation of ‘model projects’ which are drawn from different sectors.

“We have approved 13  of 15 investment proposals,” Sangma said.

Ri Bhoi district is one of the preferred destinations for investment  as it got eight business proposal which is the maximum. East Khasi hills district got 3 proposals, East Jaintia hills 2, and one each in West Jaintia Hills and West Garo hills.

Stating that investment proposals in the other six districts are very discouraging and not forthcoming, Sangma said, “The Department of Commerce and Industries has been directed to create an enabling business environment to encourage potential investors from the state to look at industrial as a diverse opportunity starting from micro, small and medium to large scale industrial.”

Keeping in the mind that they need to have a number of options, Sangma emphasized the need to have model projects.

“The department is also directed to assign the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for preparing model projects of different scales which will not only identify priority sector but will also help generating employment avenues,” he said.

The sectors proposed to be brought under the model projects include food processing, manufacturing, renewable energy, hospitality and others.

According to Sangma, the government will also provide assistance by ensuring simpler credit flow for local entrepreneurs to invest in these sectors.

Meanwhile, the state government decided to keep in abeyance the clearance for the two investment proposals which include a backyard poultry farming/egg production and the Amusement Park in Ri Bhoi District.

The investor Harish Bagla proposed to produce around 1.81 crore eggs per annum and for this over 50 acre of land is required in Ri Bhoi.

“We have asked the department of Animal husbandry and Veterinary to study the impact of such a large scale proposal on the existing industries before giving the approval,” Sangma said.

Sangma also announced that the state government would soon have a business summit which will be exclusive for local entrepreneurs of the state. He said this will create a platform for the local entrepreneurs to diversify their investment and become industrialists.-By Our Reporter

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