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 258.70 billion (US$ 3.76 billion) in 2018-19. The GSDP growth of the state is expected at a CAGR of 10.43 per cent between 2011-12 and 2018-19.  Total merchandise exports from Manipur increased from US$ 0.19 million in 2014-15 to US$ 2.66 million in 2018-19.

As of February 2020, Manipur had a total installed power generation capacity of 267.62 MW. The state has a potential to generate hydropower equivalent to about 2,200 MW. 6,389 new connections in Manipur has been provided the electricity under Saubhagya scheme.

Imphal has one airport and Air India provides air cargo services. Eleven national highways, with a total length of 1,750 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 for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), cumulative FDI inflows into the northeast states, during April 2000 to September 2019, amounted to US$ 122 million.

Key Sectors:

• As of Aug 2019, an agreement has been signed for development of greater Imphal area using space technology like Geographic Information System (GIS).
• In July 2019, government introduced prepaid water supply system in Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC).
• In 2018-19, the total production of horticulture crops in the state is expected to be 835.82 thousand tonnes & area under production was 104.79 thousand hectares. In 2018-19, total production of vegetables & fruits in the state is estimated at 0.354 million tonnes & 0.451 million tonnes, respectively.
• 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, Statewide Area Network, State Data Centre and State Portal, State Service Delivery Gateway and e-forms.
• Raw silk production in Manipur during 2018-19 (P) stood at 464 metric tonnes and 235 metric tonnes stood at 2019-20 (till September 2019).
• 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.

Note: P- Provisional