Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijayashankar said the state’s economy has almost doubled in the last seven years, describing the achievement as a reflection of the “resilience and determination of the people.” Addressing the opening of the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Governor highlighted the state’s strong economic performance and outlined the government’s long-term development plans.According to the Governor, Meghalaya recorded a real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth rate of 9.66 percent in 2024-25, placing it among the fastest-growing states in the country. He said the state has maintained an average growth rate of around 10 percent for two consecutive years after the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating steady recovery and expansion. Meghalaya’s economy has grown from about ₹29,508 crore in 2018 to nearly ₹59,626 crore in 2025, showing significant progress over a short period.The Governor said the state government is working toward its long-term “Vision 2032” plan, which aims to further expand the economy and improve the quality of life for citizens. A strategic roadmap known as the Meghalaya Excellence Framework has been developed to help the state reach its goals, including becoming one of the top ten states in India in terms of per capita income and performance on Sustainable Development Goals by 2032.
Highlighting the sectors driving growth, Vijayashankar said development efforts are focused on agriculture, infrastructure, power supply, water resources, tourism, digital communication and investment promotion. He also noted that the government is investing heavily in healthcare, education, livelihood programmes, social security and citizen-focused governance to ensure that development benefits reach all sections of society. The Governor informed the Assembly that the state is currently implementing 15 externally aided projects worth more than ₹12,000 crore across sectors such as roads, agriculture, power, tourism and water conservation. Two additional projects are under loan negotiation, which will further increase investment. These projects are being supported by multilateral development agencies, while part of the funding is also covered through grants from the Government of India. He added that central government support is also helping to strengthen key infrastructure initiatives in the state. Under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), seven projects valued at more than ₹773 crore are under implementation. Among them is the Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit Development project worth about ₹234 crore, which is expected to improve tourism facilities and bring global attention to Sohra. Other major tourism and urban development initiatives include the Shillong Peak Ropeway project and the construction of a Unity Mall in New Shillong Township. These projects aim to enhance visitor experience, generate employment and support urban growth.
The Governor also pointed to national recognition received by Meghalaya for its community-based climate resilience initiatives. He said the state’s development model, which involves active participation of local communities in environmental protection and water management, has been appreciated in the Economic Survey of the Government of India. Through programmes such as spring mapping and community-led water harvesting, more than 55,000 springs have been mapped and over 500 water conservation projects implemented across thousands of hectares of land. Private investment is also increasing in the state, the Governor said, adding that government reforms, digital governance platforms and simplified procedures are encouraging investors. Initiatives such as the Meghalaya One Portal, CM Connect, Village Data Volunteers and real-time monitoring dashboards are improving transparency and service delivery. So far, these efforts have attracted over ₹1,800 crore in private investment, and the government aims to mobilise more than ₹8,000 crore by 2032 while creating over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.He mentioned recent investment projects, including a ₹330 crore bottling plant by Varun Beverages in North Garo Hills, expected to generate hundreds of jobs, and the ₹300 crore Taj Umiam Resort and Spa project, which is set to become one of the largest hospitality developments in the North-East region.Industrial growth is also being encouraged through the development of factory complexes at Byrnihat, Matchakolgre and Shillong, which will provide ready-to-use facilities for micro and small enterprises. To strengthen agriculture-linked industries, a Mega Food Park covering more than 55 acres is being set up at Mendipathar, along with two processing centres in South Garo Hills and East Garo Hills. These projects are expected to support farmers, strengthen value chains and create employment opportunities in rural areas.On trade promotion, the Governor said the state recently organised a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet to help local producers connect with international markets and promote indigenous products globally. He also noted that the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs’ North-East Regional Campus was laid in Shillong, which will help build expertise in governance, corporate affairs and entrepreneurship.