NEW DELHI/SHILLONG, July 30: Some of the unique products and start-ups from Meghalaya will now get a boost with the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion Society (MSIP) signing an MoU with Invest India, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, his advisor Thomas Sangma and Government Chief Whip Marcuise Marak.
Reacting to the inking of the MoU, the chief minister said, “The objective of the MoU is to leverage investment opportunities in key development sectors to boost trade and industries in the state.”
Informing that the targets will be focussed on both short-term and long-term plans, he added, “This will enhance the entrepreneurial system in the state while also focussing on promoting One Product-One District Programme.”
The chief minister also stressed on promoting trade ties with neighbouring nations.
“Invest India team will support in planning the Global Value Chain. The immediate target will be in promoting start-ups alongside value addition of products like Lakadong turmeric, Eri silk, mushroom, pineapple and jackfruit,” Conrad said.
Meanwhile, Managing Director & CEO, Invest India, D Bagla, informed that they have already started their works through their North East desk by creating market linkage of Lakadong turmeric and import substitution alongside other products such as pineapple and honey from Ri Bhoi.
‘Centre granted Rs 13.89 cr for micro food processing units in state’
Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, on Friday said that the Centre has granted Rs 13.89 crore to Meghalaya under the Pradhan Mantri Formulization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme for assisting the micro food processing units in the state.
In his response to queries by Rajya Sabha member, Rakesh Sinha, the Union MoS said that as per the latest Annual Survey of Industries (2017-18) estimates, 1,242 persons were engaged in 27 registered food processing units in Meghalaya.
He also said that the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) has approved one mega food park (MFP) project, one agro processing cluster project and two food processing projects in the state under creation/expansion of food processing & preservation capacities scheme.
The PMKSY component schemes are demand-driven and citizens from Meghalaya can apply when Expressions of Interest (EoIs) are floated for the component schemes, Patel said.
The minister also stated that under various component schemes, a higher per cent share of grant-in-aid is provided by the government against the eligible project costs provided for difficult and hilly areas, including the Northeastern region and for SC/ST entrepreneurs.
“Also, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has entered into agreement with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) to provide training, handholding and marketing & branding support to ST beneficiaries. TRIFED’s new brand TriFood for food products made by tribals or tribal self-help groups is another initiative,” Patel said.
Sinha also sought to know whether Kongthong, the whistling village of Meghalaya, is recognised for honey production and whether the Centre would promote honey production in Kongthong and its neighbouring villages by establishing a honey processing industry.
In his response, the union minister said that Sohiong fruit is the approved product under One District One Product (ODOP) of PM-FME scheme for East Khasi Hills district.
“Kongthong village is located in this district. Honey is the approved product under ODOP for South West Khasi Hills district. Under the PM-FME scheme, support is given to the existing units for non-ODOP products also. Under this scheme, the existing units engaged in honey processing are also supported through credit linked subsidy of 35% of the eligible project cost,” the minister added.
