By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Citing that the level of industrialization in Meghalaya is low, Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong said there is need to exploit the rich mineral base to boost trade and industry in the state.
“The region and Meghalaya in particular has a lot to offer but as of now, the region has to depend on industrial products from other states of the country”, Lanong stated.
Lanong was speaking at a workshop on ‘Mentoring and Monitoring of Projects under Export Development Fund for North East Region,’ organized by the North Eastern Industrial and Technical Consultancy organisation Ltd. (NEITCO) in collaboration with State Commerce and Industries Department at Shillong Club here on Monday.
The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that the forests of the state are a treasure house of valuable products and a storehouse of richly varied and colorful orchids with as many as 325 species. “Meghalaya’s natural wealth is yet to be exploited”, Lanong lamented.
“Meghalaya including other states of the North eastern region except Assam and Tripura are yet to see the light of day when it comes to industrialization”, Lanong stated.
While admitting that the growing trend of industrialization in Meghalaya has to an extent opened up the doors for real estate industries in Meghalaya, the Deputy Chief Minister however, lamented that there is a need for the north eastern states to put in more efforts to catch up with the fast pace of industrialization in other states of the country.