The Mizoram cabinet on Friday granted “industry” status to sport.

Speaking to The Telegraph after the cabinet meeting, sports minister Robert Romawia Royte said the cabinet has cleared the proposal by the state sports and youth service department to grant sports an industry status, which according to him, was a significant move to take forward the segment in a more systematic and sustainable manner.

He hailed the decision as “historic” and “unprecedented” in the history of Mizoram, which will usher in rapid as well as largescale development in various fields of sport.

“This is a clear show of level of state’s commitment towards holistic development of sports. We hope to attract more private companies to invest in sporting activities as Mizoram has evolved a conducive sports eco-system,” Royte said.

He said the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and other big industrial bodies have been demanding industry status to sport for a long time.

The decision granting industry status to sport could not be taken immediately as it is a state subject, he said.

Royte, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said the state government last year recognized tourism as an industry so as to include investors in the field.

According to an official, the meeting of council of ministers chaired by chief minister Zoramthanga also approved a proposal on economy measures to be adopted by the government of Mizoram in the wake of Covid-19,” which focuses mainly on austerity measure to fight back economic slowdown caused by the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

Among others, the cabinet also approved the Draft Mizoram Government Employees (Counting of Past Service) Rules, 2020, Mizoram Goods & Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, and the proposal for allotment of land for construction of Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) at Khawzawl.