Meghalaya all set to have a Wool Bank: B M Lanong

Shillong, Oct 8: Speaking as the Chief Guest at the inaugural function of the 2nd Shillong Woolen Expo 2012 at 10 am on Monday here at the Youth Hostel premises in Shillong, Dy. Chief Minister of Meghalaya Bindo M Lanong said that Meghalaya will soon produce its own wool with the assistance of Central Wool development Board (CWDB), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India in form Wool Bank which will be a subsided funding of the ministry that will incorporate sheep and angora rabbit and other wool producing animal rearing, technical expertise, training and setting up of a infrastructure for wool exhibition cum sale and information.

He congratulated the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) who have been spearheading a series of programs to promoted Northeast India not only as a favourite tourist destination but also as an ideal investment destination for relentlessly co-coordinating with all the concerned department to make it happen.

"Meghalaya has a great potential in this regard like other North Eastern States and we deserve to have wool industry or bank in different states of the region," he added

He said that Govt. of Meghalaya shall proudly associate with ICC in all respects to work jointly towards livelihood generations and industrial promotions as such.

Observing that most of the cattle reared in the state were used for meat consumption, Lanong said it was time for diversification of animal farming into woollen and garment industry, even as he noted that sheep rearing was rare in the state which will now find prominence in the state with the process of setting up of a wool bank is in its penultimate stage.

He informed the august gathering that he himself along with the ICC have been in constant touch with official and ministry concerned for the same. He congratulated all participants of the 2nd Shillong Woolen Expo for being a part of the expo and wished a grant success.

In his welcome address Advisor ICC-NER Nakib Ahmed, “Setting up of the wool bank is ideal as the demand of woollen products is vast due to the fact that Northeastern part of India is comprised mainly of hilly States and where the duration of winter is longer than other parts of the country’. He further elaborated on ICC’s effort and Dy. CM’s Lanong’s interest in the project which he thought shall come up by this winter.

The 10 day 2nd Shillong Woolen Expo that began from 7th Oct 2012 at Youth Hostel, Near Central Telegraph office in the inauguration ceremony today was addressed by Mrs. L Kharkonger, Commissioner & Secretary-Industries & Commerce, Govt of Meghalaya, Mr. L Baite, Managing Director, NERCORMP, Padmashree Patricia Mukhim Editor pioneer and thinker on Creation of Several Govt officials and other dignitaries from various sectors and business houses graced the event. Woolen weavers cum small scale traders from across the North east and eastern region of the country including the local weavers participated in the woolen expo.

The Meghalaya Times and Eastern Panorama have associated as Media Partner with the ICC and CWDB in organizing the Expo.