Shillong, Nov 26: With 49% of Meghalaya’s population under the age of 18, the youth demographic holds the key to transforming Shillong into an intellectual capital and unlocking development opportunities for the region. This vision was a focal point at the Meghalaya Chapter of the United States Indo-Pacific Strategy: North-Eastern Dialogues (USIPS NED), held in Shillong on November 26, 2024.
Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, emphasized the role of the youth demographic is imperative in contributing to Shillong regaining its image as an intellectual capital. “This dialogue provides an enabling environment that fosters growth, especially within our young population” he said.
The event, organized by the United States Consulate General Kolkata in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), convened 37 stakeholders from various sectors to discuss strategies for boosting trade, connectivity, and climate resilience in India’s Northeast.
USIPS NED project underscores the Northeast’s potential to emerge as a vibrant, resilient, and connected hub in the Indo-Pacific region. The 18-month initiative aims to enhance understanding of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy’s impact on India’s Northeast, particularly in fostering trade, connectivity, and climate change mitigation through India-US cooperation.
The one-day dialogue focused on enhancing physical and digital connectivity in the region, emphasizing infrastructure that links the Northeast to the Indo-Pacific via the Bay of Bengal. With the Northeast’s heightened vulnerability to climate change, sustainable infrastructure practices resilient to climate risks also formed a key part of the discussions.
Nilanjan Ghosh, Director of ORF said the USIPS NED Meghalaya Chapter integrates economic development and ecological balance. “It seeks innovative solutions in trade, connectivity, and climate resilience to align with the aspirations of Northeast India while utilizing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy for mutual benefit across economic, geographic, and cultural dimensions” Ghosh said.
Among the key themes was the role of sustainable infrastructure and digital connectivity in preparing the region for its strategic positioning within the Indo-Pacific framework. Stakeholders explored how partnerships between India and the U.S. could create innovative solutions tailored to the region’s unique challenges and opportunities.
