The Kolkata based Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has for a long time taken keen interest to promote business opportunities for the North Eastern region. They have organised pow-wows between corporate honchos of the metros and business leaders, politicians and bureaucrats of the region within the country and outside it. Many of these investment meets have not progressed beyond the dinner or breakfast table chats or beyond seminar rooms. One business meet that was very pragmatically organised was at Bangkok in 2007 when business leaders from the region interfaced with Thai business houses on a one to one. Some businessmen from Assam had made significant headway then. The initiative for the business meets was taken by the Department for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in collaboration with ICC and at the personal intervention of the former DoNER Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar who believed in the Look East Policy more than anyone in the Union Ministry today can be credited with. Sadly the Look East Policy has just become a subject of academic debates and seminars.
On Monday the ICC organised yet another woollen expo at Shillong with the intent of promoting a climate for wool production within the region. Several states of the North East fall within climatic zones that require woollen wear during the winter months beginning late October and lasting up to the month of March. The region has been largely dependent on imports from Ludhiana which is famous for its woollen products. Deputy Chief Minister BM Lanong was right when he said that Meghalaya is a wool consuming state but produces nothing of its own. It is learnt that the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department would soon be promoting sheep rearing as a rural livelihood activity. These will be hybridized sheep which can be reared mainly for wool. It is a new venture but if it takes off then Meghalaya can become a brand ambassador for its woollen products. States like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are already producing wool, albeit on a small scale. ICC has been consistent about promoting Meghalaya as a wool destination. This collaboration between ICC, the Meghalaya Government and the small and middle level weavers and knitters is crucial for promoting cottage industries and boosting the rural economy.