After inaugurating the North East Handloom and Handicraft Exhibition, organised by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shah said, Mizoram could tap forest resources, like bamboo, to become self-reliant. the value-addition, processing, manufacture and marketing of the handicrafts could benefit people as well as the state economy immensely, he added.
Shah, who arrived here on Saturday on his first visit as the Union Home Minister, said under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 23,000 people in Mizoram had received cooking gas (LPG) connections.
DoNER (Development of Northeastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh, who also met various local groups, said land border agreement with Myanmar had been signed and the Inland Waterways Authority project would be started soon.
Singh said the Centre had approved 43 projects worth Rs 300 crore for Mizoram.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said with proper support and assistance from the Centre, Mizoram, which had high growth potential, could have the highest gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the country.
Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma also accompanied Home Minister Shah.
Shah also held meetings with Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Zoramthanga, top officials and the NGO Coordination Committee (NCC) on various issues, including the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
The NCC, led by the Young Mizo Association (YMA), had announced to organize a protest rally against the CAB during Shah's visit. But on Friday it withdraw the plan when the Home Minister assured to discuss the CAB with it.
BJP Mizoram unit chief J.V. Hluna, who had appealed the NCC to withdraw agitation, told he was happy that the NCC cancelled the plan.
On the meeting with Shah, an NCC leader said it was "very cordial". "Shah heard us and assured that the draft of the proposed CAB would also be shared with the NCC. Shah told us he would address our concerns and the inner-line permit would be incorporated in the CAB," the NCC leader said.
The NCC has also submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister.
Two local parties the Peoples Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) and the Mizoram People's Conference held protests against the CAB.
The CAB seeks to fast-track Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Christ and Jains from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered India till December 31, 2014.
( With inputs from IANS )