Shillong: Meghalaya is positioning itself as the “Silicon Valley” of the Northeast, leveraging its burgeoning tech parks, enhanced infrastructure, and business-friendly environment to attract top IT companies.
According to senior government officials, the state’s ambitious initiatives are set to transform its economy and create significant employment opportunities.
The Shillong Tech Park Phase-I, located at the New Shillong Township, is already operating at full capacity.
Since its launch in October 2022, it has employed over 1,200 youths across IT firms, including some local enterprises.
The Rs 60-crore project, conceptualized in 2018, boasts a super built-up area of 1 lakh square feet with plug-and-play facilities, skilling centres, conference rooms, and a 100-seater auditorium.
Pravin Bakshi, IT Commissioner and Secretary, highlighted the state’s commitment to ensuring reliable infrastructure, such as robust internet connectivity through Powergrid Teleservices Ltd and BSNL backup.
“These efforts have instilled confidence in companies to establish operations here,” he said.
To meet growing demand, the Meghalaya government has begun work on two additional tech park buildings.
Phase-II of the Shillong Tech Park and a new IT park in Tura are expected to generate employment for over 4,000 IT-trained youths upon completion by the end of 2025.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who is closely monitoring the projects, expressed optimism about Meghalaya’s trajectory.
“We are moving in the right direction to become the next ‘Silicon Valley’ of the region. With our ideal climate and world-class infrastructure, companies are increasingly drawn to our state,” he stated.
The Rs 114-crore Phase-II extension of the Shillong Tech Park will expand its capacity to host over 3,000 companies, while the Rs 127-crore IT park in Tura will accommodate more than 1,000 firms.
These projects align with Meghalaya’s goal of doubling its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to Rs 80,000 crore by 2027-28, targeting a $10 billion economy.
Officials emphasised the state’s youthful demographic—70% of the population is under 35 years—and a strong pool of English-fluent graduates from premier educational institutions.
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“This talent pool is highly attractive to multinational companies, particularly in the IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sectors,” Bakshi added.
In addition to its tech initiatives, the Shillong Tech Park will host a ‘Remote Pilot Training Organisation,’ offering drone operator training to local youths.
This programme aims to create self-employment opportunities in emerging fields.
A number of companies, including a US-based tech firm, recently acquired space in the Shillong Tech Park.
They plan to hire 100 software and accounting professionals in the next three months and double that number by year-end, providing a wealth of opportunities for fresh graduates and experienced professionals alike.
