Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the Meghalayan Age Pavilion at Ward’s Lake in Shillong, a new space to promote local businesses, traditional crafts, food and creative enterprises.
Developed at a cost of Rs 11.52 crore across a 16,000-square-foot site within the Deputy Commissioner’s Residence premises, the pavilion is part of the state government’s Creative Redevelopment Plan for Shillong, which seeks to repurpose government-owned land for public spaces and livelihood opportunities.
The pavilion will be managed by Meghalayan Age Limited (MAL), which was formally handed the facility by the Director of Urban Affairs during the inauguration.
Sixteen entrepreneurs supported by the Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises (PRIME) initiative will operate from the pavilion. Their businesses span food and beverages, handlooms, handicrafts, textiles, fashion, lifestyle products, wellness and agro-based enterprises.
The facility also houses the Meghalayan Age Shillong Store, showcasing products from across the state, including locally made food items, handicrafts, handlooms and lifestyle products.
A café and restaurant will offer visitors a taste of Meghalaya’s culinary traditions and contemporary food culture. The restaurant and kitchen were formally handed over to Adonijah Lyngdoh, winner of the Hills on a Plate Culinary Competition, who will operate the facility.
The pavilion also features a Meghalaya Fruit Wine Experience Centre to promote the state’s fruit wine industry and highlight the work of local farmers, producers and winemakers. The Meghalaya Fruit Wine Makers’ Association will manage the centre.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sangma said the pavilion brings together Meghalaya’s food, local products, entrepreneurs, artisans and creative talent under one roof.
He said the aim was to create spaces that generate economic opportunities while showcasing the state’s culture, heritage and identity.
The event also saw sanction letters distributed to the 16 PRIME-supported entrepreneurs, followed by an interaction between the chief minister and the business owners.
The programme featured a fashion showcase by Daniel Syiem, presenting a specially curated Ryndia collection for the Meghalayan Age Store, alongside performances under the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project.
The pavilion is among the first visible projects under the state government’s Creative Redevelopment Plan for Shillong, which seeks to address the city’s limited land availability by repurposing government-owned properties for public use.
Other projects under the programme include the redevelopment of Anjalee Junction and the PWD Complex at Barik, the redevelopment and ecological restoration of Ward’s Lake, a public park on land made available by Raj Bhavan, a street food hub on State Guest House land, and the Wah Umkhrah Riverfront Development.
The government is also developing dedicated vending spaces at Brightwell Bungalow, Barik, Laitumkhrah and Dhankheti to provide organised facilities for vendors.
The Creative Redevelopment Plan has received appreciation from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and secured incentives under the Challenge-Based Funding component of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment programme for 2025-26.
Also Read: What explains the politics of ‘othering’ Northeast Indians?