Shillong, May 15: Meghalaya should focus on its own strength and take advantage of State own resources to create an enabling environment for investment, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma underscored.

Sangma made this observation in the first meeting of the executive committee of the Economic Task Force constituted to formulate sector specific strategies for initiating development in a post-COVID-19 scenario.

“The objective of this task force is to look into the prevailing situation and suggest measures to initiative interventions in core sectors like agriculture and tourism for the welfare of the people and revive the State economy,” he said addressing the meeting.

Talking about the crisis that has affected economies globally, Sangma said, “We as a State should focus on our strength and take advantage of our position and our resources by creating an enabling environment for investment and diversification of our trade and business opportunities.”

“Right policies for investment in the right sectors with right partners and right people will enable us to have a road map to further strengthen our existing industries and infrastructure particularly for promoting agriculture and its allied sectors,” the Chief Minister added.

He also informed that the Economic Task Force will work with different organisation and partners to prepare a “final report” that would comprise a new policy decision, including innovative ideas and strategies that would define core priority areas for pushing economic and livelihood activities.

“The final report will be placed in the cabinet for its approval and will then be rolled out,” the Chief Minister informed, even he voiced hoped that the Economic Task Force will provide the way forward for the Government to look at current situation and devise a systematic and synergistic road map for financial and economic stability of the people and the State as a whole.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong informed that a working group and executive committee of the Economic Task Force were formed being headed by the Chief Minister.

The other members of the executive committee include Deputy Chief Minister, Commerce and Industries Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary M. S. Rao, Secretary North Eastern Council, K. N. Kumar Chairman Farmer’s Commission, Prof David Reade Syiemlieh, Prof Stephen Dercom from Oxford University, Sishir Bajoria Chairman IIM Shillong.

Tynsong informed the task force will have six working groups – Finance, Revenue and Investment, Infrastructure and Labour, Primary Sector (Agriculture and Allied sector), Rural Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood, Industries and Trade and Tourism, Entrepreneurship and Skill.