SHILLONG: With an eye on catalysing, opening up, stimulating and promoting the nascent food processing sector of the state, the government, through the newly-created Directorate of Food Processing and the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE), will participate in the SIAL India 2019 Food Innovation Show, New Delhi, on September 19-20, as a partner state with the objective of bringing together, showcasing and introducing the rich bounty of Meghalaya’s natural food and processed food products to a national and global audience.
SIAL India is expected to welcome more than 8000 B2B visitors and 200 top buyers from all over the globe.
The state government has identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as crucial growth drivers of the economy, therefore, SIAL India 2019 becomes a golden opportunity for the state’s SMEs to become part of the larger global economy.
The presence of Meghalaya in SIAL India 2019 will be marked by exclusive branding, signages and a 200 square meter custom designed State Pavilion titled ‘Meghalaya On the Move’ which will be showcasing the processed food products of 21 top food processing entrepreneurs of the state. Of these, two of the state’s products, BEE NATURAL HONEY and COSIA Lime & Honey drink, have been shortlisted for the prestigious SIAL FOOD INNOVATION AWARDS 2019 to be announced on the September 19.
SIAL India 2019 will be inaugurated by Union Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma from the Meghalaya Pavilion itself. A dedicated panel discussion on the ‘Opportunities and challenges of food processing SMEs as growth drivers of the Northeastern economy’ will also be held in which the chief minister will also participate.
Meghalaya has also been buckling up to host the state’s first and biggest food exhibition and show to be called the “North East Food Show by Meghalaya & SIAL” in December.
