Shillong, July 11, 2025: Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking at the IICA North East Conclave 2025 in Shillong, underscored the growing startup ecosystem in the region, revealing that there are 2,300 DPIIT-recognised startups across the North-East, with 69 based in Meghalaya alone.
Emphasizing the need for institutional support and collaboration, the Finance Minister called on premier institutes like IIM Shillong to play a proactive role in fostering cross-sector dialogue and professional engagement.
“It is important that institutions like IIM Shillong help in cross-pollination, get all professionals together, meet up every now and then - and now that IICA is here, they should become the agents of bringing people together so that greater discussions and compliance-related issues can be addressed,” she said.
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The event marks a significant step toward strengthening the regulatory and developmental framework in the region, with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) now positioned to facilitate policy outreach, compliance, and enterprise capacity building in the North-East.
The conclave witnessed participation from policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and startup founders, aiming to bridge knowledge gaps and bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the region.
