AJIT JOHN
PANJIM: The numbers look a bit foreboding but if initial reports are to be believed then the efforts to attract investments into the state may be paying off.
The Investment Promotion Board (IPB) cleared 6 proposals for allotment of industrial plots. The proposals came from companies involved in the manufacturing, electronics and pharmaceutical industry. These proposals had been given to the earlier government body, the HPCC that was responsible for the promotion of the state as a viable investment destination.
Kirit Maganlal, chairman Goa Chapter CII said these proposals were from companies that were expanding their existing operations in the state.
They were he said applying for expansion and wanted more land which meant there was money coming into the state.
He was unable to provide details as to how much was coming in though another individual who was aware said it could said to be in excess of Rs 100 crore on a conservative estimate. The proposals cleared include Ion Exchange (India) at Verna which had asked for 7000 sqm for its expansion. They are asked for approximately 15,000 sqm. Other companies included Venkat Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, which plans to manufacture RMC for their own projects as well as for the market and had asked for 10,000 sqm. For this company 8,000 sqm was ratified. Indoco Remedies wanted 30,000 sqm to set up its own warehouse. The committee recommendation of 20,000 was accepted. For Duco Luxe India Ltd, a 25,000 sqm plot at the Kundaim Industrial Estate was cleared, while for Mabpharm, a 15,000 sqm plot was cleared.
The government had set up the Investment Promotion Board as the nodal authority for investments in Goa which meet any or all of the below criteria: Investment upwards of Rs 5 crore; Area requirement equal to or above 3000 sqm; Classified under the Red or Orange category as per Goa State Pollution Control Board guidelines.
Mr Maganlal said it was a good start to the aggressive push to improve the industrial base in the state.
He said “There are more proposals that will be reviewed when the IPB meets next on January 16.”
Atul Pai Kane confirmed that six proposals had been cleared and that two of the units were in Sanguem and the rest scattered all across. He added that the large projects committee had sanctioned more projects though he was not in possession of that information.
The objective of this investment policy is to create 50,000 jobs in the next five years and facilitate Rs 25,000 crore of new investment into Goa in the next five years.
Reacting to statement made by the Industry Minister Mahadev Naik that it was difficult to achieve in the next five years a senior corporate manager who did not want to come on record said that it was unfortunate that the man who should be highly motivated to ensure this exercise was a success was already working out a strategy to explain the failure to do what was promised.
He said “This is a tragedy , where people are busy trying to ensure that they are safe if it does not happen. This is a long term project and industrialisation is an ongoing affair. It cannot be a short term strategy.”
The Investment Promotion Board was set up and has been empowered to oversee and direct the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce (DITC), Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (GTDC), Economic Development Corporation Ltd. (EDC), Infotech Corporation Goa Ltd and other concerned bodies towards speedy processing of investment proposals and investor facilitation.
