PANJIM: Managing Director of Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Goa-IDC) P Pravimal Abhishek, IAS has said that Invest Goa 2024 scheduled on January 29, will bring Rs 80-90 crore investment which will be utilised for infrastructure development in all industrial estates.
Speaking to O Heraldo on Wednesday, Abhishek said, “There are three, four reasons why we are having Invest Goa. Goa IDC has been in debt for a very long time. Last year we were able to turn it around and bring it out of debt. There are opportunities to invest in the State but investors are not capitalising these opportunities. Investors are not looking at Goa as an investment destination and was affecting the financial health of the Corporation. We have not been able to realise funds because of lack of competition. This scenario has existed because in the past we have not reached out to the investors. We have not spoken to them and told them that these are the opportunities.”
“In my opinion Goa is already having advantages. It is strategically located. Mumbai is highly congested. Goa could be a good destination in the Konkan region. Therefore, investors will find it a good place to invest. Second thing is that earlier the procedures were complex and cumbersome. Now it is simplified and we are one of the best as far as ease of doing business is concerned. There is competition and we want to get the best out of it. Commercial plots are also available in Verna Industrial Estate. We are creating the opportunities and hence we want to tell the investors that think of Goa. While we are doing this we are also focusing on sectors like IT and ITes. Because IT companies or Startups do not require much land. That is why we are having sectoral sessions in the event. IT, ITeS, Logistics and Warehousing are the main focus sectors,” he said.
Abhishek said there would be group discussions with the delegates from medical device manufacturing companies.
“There would be some multinational companies as well. The delegates from Netherland, UAE and Italy are likely to attend the event. We have so far received 350 registrations,” he informed.
Abhishek claimed that Goan industries will benefit from the Invest Goa event. If big investment comes to the State then it will automatically lead to the growth of a lot of MSMEs, which will lead to creation of lot of jobs. It will start good economic cycle.
He mentioned that Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho had visited Vibrant Gujarat and Mumbai, where he met various captain of industries.
According to Abhishek, during the last three years, the Goa IDC by conducting four rounds of e-auction collected Rs 121.75 crore as total land premium. “We now want to exceed this land premium collection in the round 5 and we achieve it then it will be a tremendous success for the e-auctioning of the plots available in Verna and Latambarcem in Bicholim taluka and utilise the revenue for building infrastructure such as roads, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, fire hydrants, pumping stations, etc, in all 24 industrial estates situated across the State,” he added.