Shillong, June 25: The state government has made it clear that the two-day Infrastructure Summit held in Shillong was not to chase investments, but it was designed to bring the Centre, Northeastern states and the industry in one platform for some honest discussion.
“The purpose of the state government was to bring in various stakeholders on one platform and it was not an investor summit in that passion, that is why we called it infrastructure summit,” Commissioner & Secretary Sanjay Goyal said on Thursday.
The official pointed out that the event brought together key ministries from Government of India, departments from all Northeastern states, and industry representatives.
The sessions were structured around three focus areas: mapping strengths of each state, gauging industry interest, and reviewing Central schemes from a Northeastern perspective, he pointed out.
It also gave an exposure to the various Central ministries on the various interventions in schemes required from Northeastern perspectives, he added.
Goyal said senior officers from all invited ministries participated in the summit. “They have sat through all discussion and chaired all discussion, so this is what was the prime objective,” he said.
The bigger aim was to break old perceptions about investing in the region.
“…let them come and explore, and understand, what kind of initiatives the state governments are taking including Government of Meghalaya…,” Goyal said.
On investment climate, Goyal said views have changed.
“As far as a few years back investment, I think that perception has changed to a large extent, the government has been facilitator in various things,” he said.
He cited Meghalaya’s investment promotion policy and Act from two years ago: “…it talks about all facilitations, but then what we are looking forward is let people come and understand… whether those facilitations are there on the ground or in just papers.”
