Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI)

Health is wealth & appropriately our Health & Wellness committee organized its first Symposium at “ Dilsasa” a palliative Care Centre in Ponda which cares for patients with serious illnesses. Our Women’s wing followed this initiative on Health with a webinar on “ Eat Right & Hygiene Rating” with support from FDA & WICCI- food & Nutrition Council.  This was an awareness for the food business Operators with the tag line” SahiBhojan, BehtarJeevan”. The webinar was well attended.

With the date for presenting the Electricity Dept business Plan to the Centre fast approaching the Chamber organised a panel discussion “ Rethink Energy” with the Hon. Power Minister Mr Nilesh Cabral. Eminent panellist from different Industrial sectors expressed their viewpoints on the Goan Power Sector. The Minister was open to suggestions & has proposed a follow-up meeting.

The GCCI Agri Committee continued its activities with a spate of meetings. Interesting initiatives included the Plantation of fruit-bearing trees along the highways, Revival of Khazan lands.

MSMEs are the backbone of the Industry & GCCI has always been at the forefront to support them. The Chamber organised a visit from the Chairman & Managing Director of Small Industries Development Bank ( SIDBI). Mr S Ramann. Flagship SIDBI schemes were explained to the MSME stakeholders.

The Chamber has always been at forefront of promoting international trade. In this context, we hosted an Indonesian Trade delegation. I am pleased to state this meeting culminated in some interesting trade deals.  The Hon. Consul General also invited the GCCI members to attend the Indonesian Trade Expo 2021 which will be held on a virtual platform.

Electric Vehicles are the future of transportation. Chamber organised a presentation & Demo of Tata Electric vehicles which drew a lot of interested members.

The Northeast parts of Goa suffered heavily from the deluge generated by the sudden Discharge of Dam waters at the end of July 21. The Chamber has taken up this issue strongly with the Govt and made suggestions to have continuous coordination with neighbouring states& set up sops for Dam water management. As a result, the Chief Engr(WRD) had agreed to set up an Expert Committee for Dam Water Management with representation from GCCI.

The State is gearing up for Elections & the Govt machinery is in full swing to fulfil public demands. New Policies, schemes are being released and this is the best time to push for reforms. The Taxation Committee had sought extensions in the corporate AGM meetings, Extensions in timelines for Audit statements under Goa RERA & Waiver of Interest u/s 234 of Income Tax Act. Of these Govt has extended the timelines for Corporate AGM meetings as represented by the Chamber.

With a promising festive season heralding in the Chamber looks forward to many Economic & Commercial activities in the coming month.

Warm regards,

Ralph de Sousa