Guwahati: Meghalaya, the land of clouds, is known for its tourist hotspots and colourful cultural festivals. It is a little-known fact, however, that this Northeast Indian state has ample export capacity to generate revenue and employment opportunities for the local populace. Business North East recently caught up with Dolly Khonglah, the Secretary of the Meghalaya International Export Chamber of Commerce and Vice President Indo- Bangla Chambers of Commerce, Guwahati, for her insights on the matter.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

BNE: What can you tell us about the export scenario from Meghalaya - volume and value-wise?

DK: I was in the export business for about 30 years as a young girl and have witnessed the sector's growth first-hand. How we were functioning, how the market was internationally, and how we procured the materials for export - those were some of my concerns. The first challenge in the export business is the language barrier. To speak with buyers from Bangladesh, one needs to know Bengali. Despite this, I resolved to stick around. I thought to myself: 'If men could do it, why could I not?' I started by exporting rice in 1993-94 and later became the first person to export stone boulders to Bangladesh through the Dawki border. Gradually, we started exporting other commodities such as fruits, vegetables, and limestone.

As far as limestone was concerned, I was the first to get a mining lease from the government and we now operate as per the norms. Exporting limestone is very easy as the demand is very high. If they (Bangladesh) do not get it from us, they may divert the trade to Vietnam. To keep the Indian market intact, we worked hard despite sub-par infrastructure at the border.

As far as coal is concerned, the main setback for us is transportation and costs are also very high. Due to poor infrastructure and long journeys, we have not been able to bear the cost. Recently, the state government has started taking the initiative and the centre has been kind too. We should be grateful to the late Prime Minister Vajpayee for getting us on track here. The trade volume of Dawki is $10 per tonne; 12 tonnes per truck and 800 trucks a day. So, we get $120 per truck from Bangladesh. Altogether, 500 trucks may be heading to Meghalaya through all borders. So, this is the volume of the trade. You can imagine how much revenue we are giving to the state government in the form of royalty and how much foreign exchange we are bringing to the country. We are the engine of the economy.

BNE: What are the export regulations in Meghalaya that businesses should be aware of?

DK: Export is a central government concern. We have to obtain IEC from the Director General of Foreign Trade. In export, documentation is a bigger process than money. The final license is guaranteed by the Director General of Foreign Trade from the Ministry of Commerce. It is a long process.

BNE: Does the chamber provide market research or intelligence services to help businesses identify potential export markets?

DK: We have conducted regular meetings with our importers to study and survey our markets. For marketing and survey, I have to collect the information from our buyers. So, there are regular meetings between buyers and sellers. We have a good understanding. If one suffers, all will suffer.

BNE: How does the chamber support capacity building for businesses involved in international trade?

DK: Yes, sometimes we have workshops, regular meetings, etc. We give them the guidelines. If any problem arises between the importer and exporter, they can approach us.

BNE: How does the chamber facilitate networking among local businesses and international partners?

DK: We give person-to-person networking opportunities. We solve small matters with exporters and importers. If, however, the matter is serious and if it needs official intervention, I, as the secretary of the Meghalaya International Chamber of Commerce for the last 20 years, take charge of the issue. So, this is the kind of network that we have here.

BNE: How does the association contribute to the skill development and training of women entrepreneurs to enhance their competitiveness?

DK: In the chamber of commerce here, women are in top positions. I am the secretary, and the joint secretaries are all women. This time, I took two women to a national-level gender workshop in New Delhi. Presentations were delivered by international dignitaries and our women are sure to have learned something. Whenever they need us, we are always there to guide them.

BNE: Can you provide information on the government support and incentives available for businesses engaged in international exports?

DK: The Shillong-Dawki road here is pivotal for our export prospects. The work was now initially left undone and we had to suffer. Now, the state government is taking the initiative with a strong awareness about the condition of the road. The CM himself has called people who are connected with the construction to take stock of the construction. In my opinion, the road should at least be repaired. The state government is now very interested in promoting exports in the state. For instance, limestone is completely under state government. If any complications arise, we move to the government seeking counsel. Whatever they have to do to sort things out, they do. It is our responsibility contribute to the government, not otherwise.

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