Shillong, Oct 29: Meghalaya is looking to tap global markets worth $26.8 trillion through India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), even as the State’s current exports stand at just $77 million.
The gap was highlighted at a state-level outreach programme held in Shillong today, organised by the Commerce and Industries Department in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, Government of India, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Addressing the programme, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Commerce and Industries Sniawbhalang Dhar said the state government wants farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs and youth to benefit from FTAs. He identified horticultural produce, spices, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, honey, bamboo, handloom and handicrafts as key export sectors.
Dhar noted that India’s trade agreements with partners including the UAE, Australia, United Kingdom, Oman, European Union and New Zealand offer preferential access to economies that collectively account for approximately $26.8 trillion in GDP and $8.2 trillion in goods imports. He also highlighted Meghalaya’s strategic location along the Bangladesh border and the importance of the Land Port at Dawki.
On cross-border trade, he said the state has proposed a new Land Customs Station at Umkiang in East Jaintia Hills and sought upgrade of stations at Bagli, Borsora, Bholaganj, Mahendraganj and Dalu into Integrated Check Posts, besides reopening of five existing Border Haats and operationalisation of the completed haat at Huroi in East Jaintia Hills.
He referred to the Centre’s Export Promotion Mission, approved in November 2025 with an outlay of Rs 25,060 crore up to 2030-31, and its two sub-schemes — Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha — providing trade finance and market-access support, besides transportation assistance under the LIFT scheme. He urged exporters to obtain valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and Udyam registrations.
Dhar said the State Action Plan from the workshop and district-level workshops that will follow must lead to real export results. He said more than 100 MoUs were signed during the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet 2.0 held on October 8 and 9, which brought together 30 international buyers from 16 countries and 400 sellers and MSMEs from 12 districts.
Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Kapil Chaudhary said India had signed around seven FTAs in the last five years, providing access to markets accounting for more than 75 per cent of global GDP. With Meghalaya’s exports reported at $77 million, she stressed the need to strengthen trade linkages and capture shipments currently routed through ports outside the State.
Commissioner & Secretary Cyril V. D. Diengdoh said a trade agreement is like a door that has been opened but somebody has to walk through it, stressing coordination among Central ministries, State authorities, financial institutions and Export Promotion Councils.
