Shillong Dialogue 2019

Shillong Dialogue 2019 focused on the overarching theme of “ Creating trans- boundary value chains in Agri/Horticulture and Tourism with Northeast India” with two sub-themes. Each of the Sub-themes incorporated the overarching theme to come up with ideas and recommendations, including those on tangible collaborations. The sub-themes with a tentative outline are as follows: 1. Sustainable Tourism: Potential circuits in the region, Policy and Regulatory climate, Regional initiatives around tourism and their progress, Technology solutions, Capacity building needs, Role of Civil Society and Community, Partners. 2. Climate-Smart Regional Agri-Horti Value Chains: Potential products and their business cases (particularly those with potential of integrating producers and other supply chain players in the region, across borders in the region), Specific Climate concerns and solutions, Policy and Regulatory climate, Technology solutions, Investment Needs, Role of Civil Society and Community, Partners. Both these sub-themes deliberated on how to further tangible collaborations in the focused geography of north East India and Bangladesh in tourism and agri-horti sectors. The overall focus of Shillong Dialogue 2019 was on creation of sustainable livelihoods within India, Bangladesh, and other Eastern South Asian countries, on learning and creating linkages with South East Asia, in the context of climate change and the emerging geo- politics of regional cooperation. A special session is devoted to promoting women’s entrepreneurship. The dialogue was a one and half day affair with the sessions dedicated to Stakeholder Consultations on specific themes and pillars and Policy Discussions, that will be informed by, among other things, deliberations and ideas that emerge from the stakeholder consultations. Appreciating the ongoing connectivity projects between NER India and neighbors (in particular Bangladesh and Myanmar) and drawing from the Shillong Dialogue 2018, attempt will be made to bring relevant stakeholders to discuss core issues such as trans-boundary value chain creation, addressing non-Tariff Barriers, evacuation of goods to larger global markets and setting up local institutional structures for better border area development with particular emphasis on the sectors of agri-horticulture and tourism.