Meghalaya stakes claim as Northeast growth leader at NEC Plenary

State pushes regional tourism, entrepreneurship and connectivity agenda as Vision 2047 roadmap takes shape

Shillong, June 6: Meghalaya used the 73rd North Eastern Council (NEC) Plenary in Shillong to position itself at the forefront of the Northeast’s development agenda, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma presenting a roadmap focused on tourism, entrepreneurship, connectivity and regional cooperation.

The plenary, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight northeastern states, reviewed strategies to accelerate growth under the North East Vision Plan 2047, a long-term blueprint aimed at transforming the region into a hub of economic activity and innovation.

Sangma, who chaired the high-level task force on tourism, called for the Northeast to be promoted as a single destination rather than eight separate markets. He argued that a unified tourism strategy would encourage visitors to travel across state boundaries and unlock the region’s full tourism potential.

“The Northeast is stronger when marketed collectively,” Sangma said, advocating greater coordination among states to create seamless travel experiences.

The chief minister highlighted Meghalaya’s own tourism push, which includes more than 150 projects currently under development. Key initiatives include the Shillong ropeway, a skywalk project, the Rain Museum at Mawsynram and the expansion of Shillong Airport’s runway, which is expected to improve connectivity and support the state’s ambition of attracting 1.8 million tourists annually.

Beyond tourism, Sangma showcased Meghalaya’s growing focus on entrepreneurship and private enterprise. The state’s CM-ELEVATE scheme, which offers financial support and subsidies to entrepreneurs, has received more than 29,000 applications within two months of its launch. Meanwhile, the PRIME entrepreneurship programme has supported thousands of beneficiaries and helped establish hundreds of new enterprises.

Officials said the initiatives reflect a broader effort to diversify Meghalaya’s economy and reduce dependence on traditional government employment.

The chief minister also highlighted preparations for the 39th National Games, which Meghalaya will host in 2027. The state has launched a long-term Sports Action Plan and is investing in sports infrastructure to build capacity ahead of the event.

Speaking on regional development, Sangma said the NEC is increasingly evolving from a funding agency into a policy institution capable of driving coordinated action across the Northeast. He stressed the need for states to collaborate on shared challenges and opportunities, particularly in sectors such as tourism, trade, infrastructure and agriculture.

The plenary also reviewed recommendations from eight sectoral task forces covering tourism, investment promotion, connectivity, agriculture, sports, food self-sufficiency, handloom and handicrafts.

With Meghalaya also positioning itself as a gateway to Bangladesh and wider ASEAN markets, the state used the gathering to reinforce its ambitions of becoming a regional hub for trade, investment and services.

Observers noted that hosting the NEC plenary offered Meghalaya an opportunity not only to showcase its development initiatives but also to play a more prominent role in shaping the Northeast’s long-term growth strategy.

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