INDUSTRIES IDENTIFIED AS THRUST AREAS

Based upon the industrial opportunities and potential available in Meghalaya the following industrial sectors have been identified as thrust area : -

1.                   Agro Based Industries :

Meghalaya has a competitive advantage in agro-based industries. State Government is also implementing various development programmes for improving the production of horticulture and agricultural produces. In tune with this emphasis State Government will continue to give priority to agro-based industries, which will not only further strengthen the agricultural base of the State but also enhance employment opportunities. Further, State Government will assist in establishing appropriate linkages between the growers and the processors of agricultural produce.

The following agro-based units will be encouraged to come up in Meghalaya.

a.                   Horticulture – Based Units

Such horticulture based units in the state will include food processing, mushroom cultivation and processing. All these products have a good market not only in the State and the rest of India but also in the neighbouring countries.

b.                  Biotechnology Based Units

There exists a high potential for the setting up of select, bio-technology based industries in Meghalaya. This industry is essentially knowledge-based and can function with minimum resources and limited transportation infrastructure.

c.                   Tissue Culture and Orchid Units

India accounts for 1300 species of orchids of which 150 are found in Meghalaya. Orchid cultivation can be taken up viably as an industry in the State. Orchids have a high value realisation in the international markets. Encouragement will be given to large-scale commercial exploitation in a systematic and scientific manner through tissue culture. Flori-culture will also be encouraged on a similar basis.

d.                   Spices Oleoresin and other Essential Oils Units

A number of spices and aromatic plants grow in different parts of Meghalaya. This can be used for the production of high value export items such as spice oils, oleoresin and other essential oils. State Government will encourage the setting up of units in this sector.

e.                   Medicinal Plants, Tea and Rubber

            Medicinal Plants have a good potential for development in Meghalaya. Commercially viable medicinal plants will be identified and their potential assessed, based on which drugs and pharmaceuticals units would be encouraged.     

Meghalaya has a good potential for cultivation of tea and rubber although their processing through large scale plantation activities has not been taken up on an organised scale. Government will provide necessary support for development in this area.

2.         Animal Husbandry and Meat Processing Industries

Given the large demand-supply gap of meat in the North Eastern Region, Meghalaya needs units for hygienic and scientific processing of poultry, piggery and other meet products.

Meghalaya has a high potential for development of dairy and allied products as well as for processing of animal hides and skins and for setting up leather industries.

Units in the above sectors would be encouraged.

3.         Development of Mineral based Industries

Meghalaya is rich in minerals like high-grade limestone, Coal, granite, silimanite, Industrial clay, quartz, feldspar, etc. The following mineral based industries will be encouraged.

a.                   Coal-Based Industries

Meghalaya produces large quantities of coal of very high calorific value with low ash content but high sulphur content. This coal can be used for production of several chemicals and other industrial products.

b.                  Limestone Based Industries

Meghalaya has large deposits of limestone. The quality of these deposits varies from cement grade to chemical grade. The following projects can be set up by utilising the limestone deposits of the state.

• Cement Plants.

• Lime Plants.

• Calcium Carbide Plants.

• Precipitated calcium carbonate units and

• Bleaching Powder units

c.                   Other minerals/based Industries

d.                  A few other industries that can come up in this sector in Meghalaya are as follows :

• Silimanite refractory and other allied.

• Industries.

• Clay Washery.

• Ceramic glazed tiles.

• Cement based mosaic tiles.

• Ceramic crockery and

• Ceramic low tension insulators.

4.    Electronics & Information Technology

The State government will encourage setting up of electronic – based industries and complexes in the sphere of information technology in private sector and / or joint sector.