Meghalaya State Investment Promotion Board (MSIPB) hosted an Investment Facilitation Roundtable in Tura, Meghalaya, on November 29, 2023. Attended by over 50 local entrepreneurs, bank representatives, and district commerce officials, the roundtable featured an open interactive session chaired by Mr. Harsh Shrivastava, Senior Advisor, MSIPB. The session focused on one-on-one discussions between entrepreneurs and government officials, where they voiced the challenges that they are facing and seeked possible solutions. The brainstorming session not only generated immediate solutions for some minor issues but also fostered a collaborative spirit among local entrepreneurs, who shared their insights and ideas. Bank officials also had the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs in need of financial support to expand their businesses. The roundtable served as a networking hub, bringing local entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and government representatives under one umbrella, where they exchanged ideas, discussed specific challenges faced in Meghalaya, and explored potential partnerships and collaborative efforts in addressing the unique business challenges faced in the region.

However, the session also brought to light several challenges faced by local entrepreneurs, including:

• Skilled Talent and Training: A major issue voiced by 33% of present entrepreneurs, stemming from challenges in hiring skilled personnel due to budget constraints and the need for specialized training programs in the Garo Hills.
• Infrastructure and Resource Management: Encountered by 15% of entrepreneurs, this encompasses inconsistent electricity, road connectivity issues, workspace expansion, and difficulties with raw material supplies like yarn, highlighting the high costs and supply disruptions.
• Market Access and Financial Support: 26% of present entrepreneurs reported issues with packaging, advertising, and reaching markets, along with 13% facing hurdles in obtaining financial support. This also includes challenges in integrating small sellers into government marketplaces and expanding store outlets with governmental assistance.
• Logistics, Connectivity, and Raw Material Procurement: Addressing the problems of product delivery, inadequate road infrastructure, and the challenges faced by 10% of entrepreneurs in procuring raw materials.
• Governmental and Licensing Challenges: Covering bureaucratic delays and complications in excise licensing processes, with a specific focus on the food processing and winery sectors where 3% of entrepreneurs face issues with the lengthy licensing process. This section also considers the need to enhance tourism and storage solutions in the region. 

A significant part of the event was the introduction to the MSIPB portal, which is currently being developed and the sections focusing on entrepreneurs were demonstrated to the participants and valuable feedback was collected from them in order to make the interface more user friendly. They gained hands-on experience in registering and navigating the Meghalaya Investment Portal effectively. This interactive platform offers matchmaking services, funding and partnership opportunities, sectoral information, and job or skill development resources. It also includes comprehensive guides on government paperwork, financial literacy resources in local languages, and a convergence of state and central government schemes. The portal aims to streamline business setup processes and connect entrepreneurs with experts in various fields. The entrepreneurs were asked to share their feedback on the portal and their doubts regarding the functionalities were addressed. Their feedback and challenges were noted down and further steps will be taken to incorporate and resolve the same.