The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry is arguably one of the premier “non-profits” consisting of topmost industrialists.
It describes itself as “Goa’s premier non-profit business, support services and networking organisation. We represent and liaise with SME’s, Corporate Organisations and Government bodies. Membership of the chamber opens up a rich resource of free essential business information”
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One of its main objectives is “To work closely with the Government, professionals, experts, intellectuals, eminent personalities and with people from industry, trade, business on matters of commerce.”
HAS GCCI HELPED SMALL BUSINESSES?
The big ask is has the GCCI truly managed to elevate itself beyond being a networking body and rise to being a centre of thought and vision where small businesses, MSMEs and those in the need for hand-holding?
Some questions that need to be asked. Why is there a rule where the presidentship of the body is restricted to those who have been on the management committee for five-years. Why can’t there be an infusion of new talent and experience from outside to bring in a fresh people-oriented approach
THE TOP LEADERSHIP IS RESTRICTED TO A SMALL CIRCLE WITH A ‘AFTER YOU, ITS ME” FORMULA’
This needs to be looked at closely because of the influence that the GCCI wields. It is not some small non-profit and networking body. Its real impact is beyond its stated objectives. It aims to and influences government policy, its budget and its economic decisions. And the GCCI had won the government mandate to have a representative to be in several government statutory committees and bodies and departments. The GCCI’s presence is visible in the IDC, the GIDC, the IPB and others. With most of the managing committee running businesses, doesn’t this amount to a conflict of interest?
It will be interesting to know if the Chief Minister is aware of exactly how many bodies the GCCI has a presence and a seat in.
Should one never ask if this is not a case of closing in and knocking others out
“This can very well be a legitimate motive but then its presence, proximity and influence on government policy-making gives its members an undue advantage over those who are not in the committee.
This is a conflict. And is it good for Goa’s industry? Surely not.
From licensing to permissions to clearances to allotment of industrial plots, the self-interests are at play. The GCCI can get the government machinery moving and not always in the interests of Goa’s exchequer but personal ones.
So in effect the GCCI is a power centre by itself
And this power centre leaves out other areas of business, other business sectors that need support and hand-holding.
For a body that wields so much power, it needs to be inclusive, allow people from outside the charmed circle to come in and make it truly a body that serves all of Goa’s economic and business interests.
Most importantly, can it look itself in the mirror and truly answer if it has helped the small-time entrepreneur who needs this support in today’s economic crisis.
