SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government on Friday notified the Goa Logistics and Warehousing Policy, 2023, aiming to strengthen the existing logistics blocks of the State by granting industry status to the logistics and warehousing sector.
The core objectives of the policy is creation of an ecosystem for logistics players by creating opportunities in warehousing and container logistics by using intrinsic strengths of the state in terms of port, airport, rail, and road network connecting to other parts of the country and world.
The policy also lists out several supporting measures. Through the policy, the State government will provide up to 5 per cent interest subsidy on the annual interest payable by companies on loans taken for the construction of projects for a period of three to five years. Incentives of upto 15 per cent will also be offered on fixed capital invested through loans on buildings, plants and machinery for integrated logistics parks, large warehouses, cold storage facilities, and testing centres in backward talukas.
Under the policy, the government will reimburse 50 per cent of the cost involved in skill upgrades and training local workers per business unit limited to Rs 5,000 per person, up to a maximum of 1,000 persons for the initial two years. The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department will come up with specific guidelines to increase the FSI up to 200 per cent for logistics and warehousing units and expand the ground coverage for such units under the policy. The department will also come up with other guidelines to allow logistic parks and warehouses to work 24X7 etc.
Last month, the State cabinet approved the Goa Logistics and Warehousing Policy, which intends to lay down a robust institutional framework to upgrade the existing logistics ecosystems and which will lead to speedy movement of goods and people will benefit the sector significantly. The policy focuses on infrastructure development warehouses, human resources development through and incentives that may be offered for creation of logistic infrastructure skilling.
