Shillong, Sep 23 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the second phase of Shillong Technology Park set up at a cost of Rs 121 crore.
The second phase of the Shillong Technology Park in New Shillong Township in Umsawli has around 1.8 lakh square feet of technology space.
Sangma said the near-full occupancy before inauguration demonstrated that demand for Grade-A technology space in Shillong was exceeding supply.
He said the presence of local companies alongside multinationals showed that the park was also enabling Meghalaya-based businesses to serve international clients.
“This is real. The signing of the agreement is real. The jobs we are creating are real. We don’t want big stories and big MoUs. We will do a few things but do them well,” Sangma said.
He said the idea of an IT park or innovation hub in Shillong was first conceived in 2008.
“Today almost feels like a dream come true,” Sangma said, adding that the technology park should evolve into an innovation hub rather than remain limited to conventional IT activities.
Sangma said Meghalaya’s economy had more than doubled since 2018 and the government was targeting another doubling by 2032, attributing the growth to policy stability.
He said the state was also investing in infrastructure and connectivity, including a new Secretariat and administrative city at New Shillong, expansion of hospitality infrastructure, Shillong Airport runway extension and road projects connecting Shillong with Guwahati.
The chief minister said human resources would be critical to the growth of the technology sector, noting that about half of Meghalaya’s population is below 20 years of age.
“The youth are tech-savvy, explore, innovate and are linked to global trends,” he said, adding that the government was supporting skill development through the Meghalaya State Skill Development Mission, the Meghalaya Skills programme, a government engineering college and a proposed skill university.
He called for greater industry participation in designing courses according to market requirements and identifying niche areas where Meghalaya could build expertise.
Sangma said Shillong should aspire to become a centre of excellence for the Northeast, BIMSTEC and Southeast Asia and emerge as a technology and innovation hub.
Recalling his visit to Berkeley in the US in 2018-19, he said Shillong should develop a similar reputation as a place where innovation leaders and companies come together.
The inauguration was also attended by BJP Minister Sanbor Shullai, Chief Secretary Dr Shakil Ahammed and senior officials of the IT Department.
(PTI News)
