MIDC chairman plans to revamp industrial activity in Garo Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 13, 2023

The Chairman of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), James P.K. Sangma, on Friday, inspected the Tura office of the corporation and held a meeting with various officials to discuss ideas for strengthening the workforce and conducting capacity-building exercises for the staff, to overhaul industrial activity in the region. During the inspection, Sangma was briefed about the various issues faced by the MIDC in Tura, such as fund constraints and the inability to provide services to grant loans to aspiring entrepreneurs and business persons in the region. 

“We have various plans and ideas that we are working on to improve the overall functioning of the MIDC in our state. We are already in the process of initiating the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, which will ensure optimal performance and help map and define the different roles and responsibilities of all concerned staff in the Corporation,” Sangma highlighted. 

“We intend to revamp and bring in new office facilities to strengthen services for the people of the region,” he added.

During the visit, Sangma also elaborated that plans to set up various centres – like the Loan Appraisal Center, Incubation Center, and Consultation Center – are in the pipeline for the Tura MIDC office and will be taken up in the coming years.  He said these centres will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to learn, network, and seek guidance from experts in their respective fields.

“The industrial sector in the Garo Hills region has great potential to become a major revenue-generating sector for our state, particularly in areas like textiles, tourism, horticulture, food processing, and handicrafts. These sectors have been identified as priority sectors by the State government as well. Therefore, MIDC aims to take necessary measures to support the development of these industries and the supporting ecosystem around it,” the Chairman said.

Given that Meghalaya is an agro-based state, the establishment of proper supply chains could benefit the state, particularly with the export market of Bangladesh in close proximity, Sangma said, adding that MIDC is building the necessary support system, including financial assistance, marketing support, and capacity building.