Shillong, Aug 19: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma has urged entrepreneurs hold patience and persevere to overcome the challenges in businesses and asserted that the government is trying to create a culture of entrepreneurship in the state.
In his address during inauguration of Ruralpreneur ’25, a rural entrepreneurship conclave, the chief minister on Tuesday said, “Many entrepreneurs fail not because their ideas are bad, but because they stop trying.”
Asserting that the government is firmly behind rural entrepreneurs, he said, “If you believe in your idea, keep going. We will stand with you.”
The two-day conclave is being organised by PRIME Rural and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) at State Central Library, Shillong.
Meanwhile, the chief minister appealed to schools, companies, and government departments to support local businesses by purchasing their products.
“This year, even the Christmas hampers I sent to the Prime Minister and other leaders will be filled with products made by our entrepreneurs, along with their stories,” he announced.
Underlining creation of a business ecosystem, he said, “We are creating a culture of entrepreneurship – a culture of taking calculated risks, of looking at problems and seeing opportunities, of not depending solely on government jobs. It is about building an ecosystem where those who want to start businesses can find the support they need.”
Sangma highlighted that Meghalaya has invested over Rs 1,700 crore in entrepreneurship through programmes such as PRIME Urban, PRIME Rural, PRIME Collectives, CM Elevate, and skilling initiatives.
He said the support for self-help groups (SHGs) has grown from Rs 30 crore before 2018 to over Rs 1,000 crore today, alongside investments in food processing units, PRIME hubs, and rural infrastructure.
Referring to his own struggles as a young entrepreneur in the 1990s, Sangma said his experiences shaped the policies he champions today.
“Even a word of encouragement would have meant so much—but it wasn’t there. That is why we want today’s entrepreneurs to have the ecosystem and guidance I lacked,” he said.
The chief minister also lauded the SELCO Foundation for powering rural health centres with solar energy.
He noted that Rs 18 crore mobilised through the MBMA–SELCO partnership included loans, a 25% subsidy from SELCO, MBMA grants, and contributions from entrepreneurs themselves.
Other speakers at the inaugural session included Dr Harish Hande, CEO of SELCO Foundation; Sampath Kumar, principal secretary; Dr Vijay Kumar D, CEO of MBMA; Saloni Verma, executive director of PRIME; and Minha Riyaz Khan, project lead of PRIME Rural.
Day One of the conclave saw the signing of MoUs, release of the PRIME Rural B-B Catalogue, distribution of cheques to MBMA–SELCO beneficiaries, recognition of PRIME Fellows and Associates, and cultural performances.
Day Two will feature networking workshops, UDYAM onboarding, business registration and packaging sessions, and cultural showcases by entrepreneurs.
