PANJIM: Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday said that every job in Mopa airport is reserved for the Goans.
Speaking at the launch of Goa’s startup policy, the minister said that there are enough jobs in the country; however, the job market has changed. “For example, every job in Mopa airport is reserved for the Goans. This has also been mentioned on the floor of the Goa Assembly. This is a reality. It is part of the agreement with those who are constructing the airport.”
Announcing that Goa would be made a logistic hub very soon, Prabhu said, “I am not even taking into consideration the hinterland. After Mumbai, the biggest airport which will come up in this coastal belt will be coming up at Mopa in Goa. We will be having a capacity to handle 30 million tourists.”
“While doing this, we can also handle the cargo. Government of India is making a cargo policy. We are making a policy where the cargo will also be driving the economy of India. In seven years time, India will be an economy of five trillion dollars and we can imagine how much raw materials will be needed and how much finished goods will be ready for market place. To make this movement of goods it is important to have a nice cargo policy. I, being the commerce minister, Prime Minister has asked me to look at the issue of logistics. This is the first time that the logistics has become a part of the system,” he said.
Prabhu informed that he has already asked the special secretary in his ministry to visit Goa in next few days to prepare a concrete plan for making Goa as a logistics hub.
“Government of India and Goa must work hand in hand to leverage some of the natural advantages each State has got. Goa is a very unique place which has good railway, roads and port connectivity and soon will have an additional international airport. The Dabolim Airport is also getting Rs 500-600 crore of investment and will be completely revamped. This makes Goa the right candidate for being a logistic hub too,” he added
On the occasion, Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma said, “We have a very unique combination of two airports; we also have a natural interface with the defence. With Goa gearing up to become a startup and IT hub, we should get the maximum benefit of this set up.”
