Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI)

Goa needs industry. That is the only way forward for the economy and the only way to create employment opportunities for our ever-growing young population.

While there is a shortage of land in Goa, it does not mean that there is no place available at all for the industry. With ‘sustainable industry’ as our credo, it means that our options are limited to an extent. So Goa has to make efforts to attract investment and industry. The GIPB Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board were intended to be a single-window system to facilitate businesses in Goa and also to attract new investments and industry into Goa.

Its mandate was to create 50,000 jobs by attracting Rs.25,000 crore over a five-year-old period. GIBB is the principal screening authority and therefore knows exactly which type of businesses to attract. One of its main tasks is to ensure investments in Goa.

However, seeking a new industry has to be a serious, concerted effort. To attract businesses, GIPB has to deliver on its promises – ease of doing business, uninterrupted power, single-window clearance, broadband connectivity, etc. In addition to seeking investments, the GIPB also has to handhold the new units from the time they submit their proposals till they go into production. Unfortunately, GIPB, in its current form, has been reduced to just a proposal processing agency with no real power to ensure land allotment, power, or water supply or to facilitate other statutory clearances.

Recently, Goa witnessed the visit of ministers from Maharashtra who came to promote industrial investments in Maharashtra. They invited all industry associations for a presentation and interaction and offered attractive packages to investors. Surely when a far bigger and more industrialized state like Maharashtra and the ministers themselves are making efforts to woo businessmen from other states to set base there, Goa will have to up its game.

After the initial hiccups, the GIPB has a good CEO who is willing to go the extra mile to secure good investments for the State, but he has to be backed by the Government with a good support system in terms of adequate staff and powers to emerge as a real single-window clearance facility for all inbound investments. Chamber is willing to support the efforts of GIPB and the Government in attracting good investments into the state. Goa is a speck on India’s map, however, this state had been the foremost in exports of iron ore from the country and a frontrunner in earning foreign exchange for India. Our mining problem seeks a solution. The Supreme Court has given its verdict on the illegalities and the environmental norms to be followed. Now what is requested is the government’s will to get legal mining sorted out and to provide respite to those who have diligently worked to eke out a living from mining as also to all others involved in making mining a top revenue earner for the government. As soon as the new Government is installed at the Centre, the State will have to make efforts to once again put the mining issue on the center stage and seek an early resolution of this issue which is linked to the future of a large section of people in the State.

Besides, manufacturing and mining, tourism is the next big contributor to the State economy. Although nationally as well as internationally, we are the leading tourist destination, the last couple of seasons has seen a drop in the arrival of big-spending foreign tourists. This can be attributed to a lack of coordination between the State Government and the other stakeholders in the tourism sector. TTAG has been bitterly complaining about the wasteful expenditure incurred on un-productive foreign jaunts by the Ministers and Department’s staff, instead of sitting with the local stakeholders and chalking out an action plan for improving the tourism infrastructure in the State. Chamber supports the TTAG and suggests that the Government consult with all the stakeholders and come up with a roadmap for the development of this sector.

Election fever, frayed nerves, accusations, insinuations, high decibel media diatribe are usual highlights of the election process. After the dust settles and the code of conduct is withdrawn, let us give investors and tourists a clearer and more professional image of Goa as not only the place to enjoy but to do business as well!

Sandip Bhandare