Investment Opportunities and
Openings
Mineral
Based Industry
Horticulture & Agro-Based
Industries
Power Generation
Export Promotion Industrial
Park (EPIP)
Investment Opportunities and Openings
The State Government
offers subsidies such as, on cost of infrastructure,
on Transport, on Training, on Power etc., the Central
Government has since declared that new units in the
North-Eastern Region will be eligible for exemption
from income tax for a period of five years from the
date of commercial production.
There are a number of potential sectors that have been
identified as Minerals Based Industry, Horticulture
& Agro based Industry, Power, Tourism, Health care
etc.
Mineral
Based Industry
Meghalaya with its wealth of mineral deposits has tremendous
industrial potential. There are extensive deposits of
coal, limestone, granite, clay and other minerals.
Coal deposits are available in all districts and particularly
in the southern slopes of the state. The coal bears
a low ash content and its calorific value ranges between
6500 to 7500 K.Cal/Kg. The total estimated reserve of
coal is in the region of 640 million tonnes. The coal
is mainly of sub-bituminous type and can be utilised
in varied industries ranging from power, fertiliser,
cement and textile to paper, rubber, brick burning and
also pottery based industries. The coal that is found
in the State can also be converted into coke to recover
value added chemicals like light, medium and heavy oil,
phenol and producer gas.
Limestone is another mineral that occurs in an extensive
belt (approx. 200 Km. Long) along the Southern boarder
of Meghalaya. The quality of limestone found here varies
from cement grade to chemical grade having three brands
as well. Total inferred reserve limestone within the
State is about 5,000 million tonnes. The quality of
limestone in the state has CaO content of 53% and can
be of use in steel, fertiliser and chemical industries.
Granite of excellent quality is at present being mined
in the East and West districts of Khasi hills. Sizeable
deposits are estimated and can be found in various shades
and colours.
Clay of various types such as Kaolin (China clay),
white clay, and fire clay are found in various parts
of the states. These clay are suitable for the ceramic,
paper, rubber and refractory industries. It has been
estimated that there are a few hundred million tonnes
of clay reserved in the state.
Beside the above, other economically viable minerals
like gypsum, phosphorite, glass-sand, base metals, quartz
and feldspar can be located in various parts of the
state. The State is also credited with having one of
the most valuable sillimanite deposits in the world.
Horticulture
& Agro-Based Industries
The potential for Agro-based
industries in the state of Meghalaya is very high. The
state produces substantial quantities of oranges, peaches,
pineapples, pears, guavas, plums and bananas of superb
variety. It also grows plenty of potatoes, tapioca,
bay leaves, ginger, maize and jackfruit.
Meghalaya's turmeric, particularly the variety that
is grown in Shangpung in the Jaintia Hills, is considered
the best in the world and its curcumine content is as
high as 7.5%.
It may be mentioned that there is enough potential
for setting up a starch based processing unit in the
State.
Plantation crops like coffee, rubber, black pepper
and arecanut are also becoming important products. A
major breakthrough has been made in tea cultivation
and tea gardens have come up in various parts of the
State.
One of the areas in which there is tremendous potential
for investment and development is food processing. There
is ample scope for setting up a large scale fruit processing
unit.
Power Generation
Meghalaya
is one of the few states in the country with surplus
power generation. Industrial units in Meghalaya have
the unique privilege of uninterrupted power supply.
The state possesses a hydro-electricity potential of
nearly 1,200 MW. The river basins of Meghalaya have
a potential feature of about 2,700 MW of Hydel Power.
The State is a major beneficiary of the South West Monsoon.
The average annual rainfall is 11,000 mm. All the river
of Meghalaya are monsoon fed. The Umiam-Umtro basins
have only been partly developed during the past forty
years. This system has three concrete gravity dams,
one weir, six earthing dykes, four reservoirs and a
network of tunnels and open channels catering to five
existing Power Stations.
The State is in the process of identifying agencies
that can invest in the development of Meghalaya's considerable
hydro power potential. The Investors in Power Sector
will find a favourable atmosphere in the State of Meghalaya.
Export
Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP)
This is proposed
to be set up at Byrnihat, near Guwahati. It has an area
of about 250 acres. The scheme to set up an EPIP has
been formulated by the Government of India, Ministry
of Commerce. A grant of Rs. 10.00 crores has been approved
for Meghalaya for the purpose.
The scheme is to encourage development of exports.
The scheme requires the State Government to provide
infrastructure facilities like power, water, roads,
sewage and drainage, telecommunication facilities and
other facilities for the Park. Units that are establishment
in the park should have to export not less than 25%
of their total product in value terms.
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