Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said entrepreneurship is the foundation of sustainable economic growth and livelihood generation as he launched the state government's "Achievers of the Month" programme to recognise outstanding individuals and inspire more people to take up entrepreneurial ventures.
Launching the flagship initiative in Shillong, the Chief Minister said the government's role is to create an enabling ecosystem through policies, infrastructure and institutional support, but it is entrepreneurs who ultimately drive economic progress. "Government creates the base, but it is entrepreneurship that makes the economy take off," CM Sangma said, describing entrepreneurship as the bedrock of sustainable livelihood generation and long-term economic development.
The Chief Minister said the initiative seeks to create a platform where achievers from diverse sectors can share their journeys, inspire others and demonstrate how government interventions have helped transform ideas into successful enterprises. Stressing the need to celebrate success stories, CM Sangma said the programme would help break sectoral barriers by bringing inspiring stories into the public domain.
"We want to share your stories with the world. What may seem simple to you is truly inspiring for others," he said. Announcing that July will be observed as a dedicated month for entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister said the government will organise storytelling sessions, public engagements and social media campaigns to showcase entrepreneurial success stories from across Meghalaya.
Addressing the gathering, CM Sangma acknowledged the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, saying that building a business often involves uncertainty, financial risks and sleepless nights. However, he said passion, resilience and determination are the qualities that define successful entrepreneurs.
Encouraging aspiring business owners, he urged them not to be discouraged by setbacks or negative opinions and to remain focused on achieving their goals. The Chief Minister also highlighted the government's efforts to promote entrepreneurship across sectors, including agriculture, sports, music and other emerging fields.
He said initiatives under PRIME and its rural outreach programmes have enabled several grassroots entrepreneurs to expand their businesses from small local ventures to supplying products in major cities. During the programme, 50 entrepreneurs from different parts of Meghalaya were honoured for their achievements.
They also interacted with the Chief Minister, sharing ideas for expanding their businesses and seeking continued government support to strengthen the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The "Achievers of the Month" initiative will subsequently recognise achievers from sectors such as sports, agriculture, education and public service to build a wider culture of innovation, enterprise and excellence across the state.