About Manipur: Information on Bamboo, Tourism Industry, Economy & Geography

Manipur is situated in the eastern-most corner of Northeast India. The state shares borders with other north-eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam and the neighboring country of Myanmar. Due to its wealth of flora and fauna, Manipur is described as a ‘flower on lofty heights’, ‘a jewel of India’ and ‘Switzerland of the East’. Its breath-taking scenic beauty makes it a tourist’s paradise.

Manipur has the advantage of acting as India's 'Gateway to the East' through Moreh town, which is the only feasible land route for trade between India and Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries. With about 3,268 square km of area covered by bamboo forests, Manipur is one of India’s largest bamboo producing states and a major contributor to the country’s bamboo industry. In 2017, the state accounted for 10,687 square km of bamboo bearing area.

Manipur has the highest number of handicrafts units as well as the highest number of craft persons comprising skilled and semi-skilled artisans in the entire north-eastern region. Handlooms is the largest cottage industry in Manipur and the state ranks among the top five in terms of the number of looms in the country.

The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was about Rs 214.01 billion (US$ 3.19 billion) in 2016-17 and is expected to reach US$ 4.08 billion by 2018-19. Total merchandise exports from Manipur increased from US$ 0.19 million in 2014-15 to US$ 2.38 million in 2018-19 (up to September 2018).

As of September 2018, Manipur had a total installed power generation capacity of 243.36 MW. The state has a potential to generate hydropower equivalent to about 2,200 MW.

Imphal has one airport and Air India provides air cargo services. Eleven national highways, with a total length of 1,746 km, run through the state. The railway line under construction on the Manipur-Assam border is a national priority project. Manipur has a land area of 22,327 sq km and a pollution free environment.

Government of India has undertaken construction of a 125 km railway line connecting Jiribam, Tupul and Imphal. The railway line will provide railway connectivity to the state’s capital and is expected to be completed by 2020.

According to the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), cumulative FDI inflows into the northeast states, during April 2000 to June 2018 amounted to US$ 110 million.

Key Sectors:

• In February 2018, a conference on ‘Linking Startups and SMEs in Food Processing with Government Schemes & Markets’ was jointly organised by ASSOCHAM, MoFPI, ICAR Imphal centre and NABARD in Manipur.
• Three common facility centres for bamboo processing have been established at Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Imphal. Government of Manipur is taking up a Bamboo Technology Park at Kadamtala, Jiribam with an estimated cost of US$ 104.3 million.
• Manipur is the first state in India to have set up the 4-core infrastructure of the National e-Governance Plan, namely Common Service Centre, State Wide Area Network, State Data Centre and State Portal, State Service Delivery Gateway and e-forms.
• Raw silk production in Manipur during 2018-19 (up to May 2018) stood at 435 metric tonnes.
• The government sees hydropower as a major industry and has given top-priority consideration to developing the state's hydropower potential. In view of this goal, it has decided to invite private investors in the hydropower generation industry.
• Hydropower majors such as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) & National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) are jointly setting up a mega hydroelectric power project at Tipaimukh, with an investment of US$2.0 billion.