Govt extends VAT exemption on fruit wine to 10 years, to provide space for Wine Information Centre
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Nov 30: The Meghalaya Fruit Wine Makers’ Association lauded the state government for its proactive support, particularly the Excise department’s decision to exempt VAT on local fruit wines for ten years.
Excise Commissioner and Secretary Matsiewdor War Nongbri informed that the state government has extended Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on fruit wine from three years to 10 years, a move intended to help young winemakers stabilise and grow their businesses.
The two-day first-ever Meghalaya Wine Summit 2025 was held in the city to promote indigenous fruit-based beverages, strengthen local entrepreneurship, and showcase the region’s diverse fruit wines.
The event received an overwhelming response from wine enthusiasts, tourists, and residents, marking a major milestone for the state’s emerging fruit wine industry.
The summit featured 20 local fruit winemakers from across the state, including three from Garo Hills and one each from East Jaintia Hills, Ri Bhoi and South West Khasi Hills, with the rest representing East Khasi Hills.
The summit brought together winemakers, government officials, experts, farmers, and stakeholders from allied sectors. It featured panel discussions, expert talks, product showcases, and interactive sessions focused on innovation, sustainability, and expanding market opportunities.
During his visit to the venue on Saturday, Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar D assured members of the Meghalaya Fruit Wine Makers’ Association that the government would provide space opposite Ward’s Lake for setting up a Wine Information Centre.
Talking to The Shillong Times, association secretary Riboksius Nongspung said the centre would serve as a venue for wine sales, displays and public education on wine tasting.
He added that regular wine appreciation sessions and curated food-and-wine pairing dinners were being planned. Nongspung highlighted the shortage of fruit varieties for winemaking, noting that production currently relies heavily on jackfruit and pineapple. He said the association intends to promote the plantation and preservation of local fruits such as Sohphie, Sohphoh Khasi and Sohlang to diversify wine flavours.
He also lauded the state government for its proactive support, particularly the Excise department’s decision to exempt VAT on local fruit wines until 2030.
The association secretary said the government recognises the potential of wine tourism as a promising contributor to Meghalaya’s tourism economy.
Speaking on the new wine policy, Nongspung said winemakers producing high-quality wine are now eligible to apply for wine boutique licences at a fee of Rs 15,000 per month. Such boutiques, he said, could benefit tourist hotspots like Sohra by enabling the sale of local wines and craft beer.
He informed that wine labels must be registered and all wines must undergo laboratory testing before approval.
Nongspung added that several winemakers from remote regions are still building confidence to participate in large platforms like the summit.
Meanwhile, Excise Commissioner and Secretary Matsiewdor War Nongbri, addressing the gathering earlier, said the state’s fruit wine sector has made significant progress since the formulation of the wine policy in 2020.
She said improvements have been seen in production volume, quality, packaging, branding and marketing, with the number of licensed fruit wines steadily increasing.
Nongbri noted that the government had extended the VAT exemption from three years to ten years in August, a move intended to help young winemakers stabilise and grow their businesses.
She added that the 2025 policy, through an amendment, now allows the deputy commissioner to issue licences for homemade wine boutiques selling only registered Meghalaya wines.
“We want wine boutiques across the state so that tourists know exactly where to taste and buy local wines,” Nongbri said, urging the association to encourage winemakers to take advantage of the opportunity.
She stressed the importance of strengthening farmer participation, market linkages and sustainable practices while urging participants to use the summit as a learning platform.
Nongbri expressed optimism about the future of the state’s wine industry.
“Wine adds warmth to the soul. With this summit, I am sure we will witness remarkable growth in the years ahead,” she said.
