Ease of business should be govt’s top priority: Joshi

HERALD: How do you assess the industrial climate in the State? 

Parag Joshi: Not much of change has occurred. There are still issues that need to be tackled. There is the limitation of land which is a problem, so we cannot go for any such industrialisation like other States are doing. But overall I think it is trickling down, there are quite a few proposals at the IPB for manufacturing but like I said earlier, I believe Goa is lagging behind. Land is the issue. However looking at the IT industry, we have to push and CII is also trying to do the IT park in Tuem and Ribandar and we are looking at Tuem with interest. We will use CII connections. 

HERALD: What is your assessment of the State Industrial Policy?

PJ: It has worked that’s why after such a big gap of 7 or 8 years there is something happening, before that there was nothing. It is all because of this policy. It is a good pathway and I believe the Goa govt has to be proactive, which is not happening at present. The industry is doing its bit but there has to be a push from the executive, which is lacking. Look at other states, the government is backing the policy, which is not seen with our government. This of course is my personal view. We can be the facilitator. Talk about Banda next door which is falling under some 3 tier backward area of Maharashtra, I am personally looking at that area today for expansion of my business. They promise return on investment in 10 years, 80% given back in 10 years. Adjust it monthly or equally against electricity bills or commercial taxes. The prices are so reasonable. Like the olden days of Goa. Now Goa is not making it viable I mean the cost and till GST comes we will have the disadvantage of the 2 percent, purchase with 2% and sell with 2%.      

HERALD: Your impression of the Investment policy and its implementation? 

PJ: The implementation is on, there are projects coming in. Job potential is being seen but is it going to take its time. We are lacking in terms of the ease of doing business. It has picked up but is not physically seen. What’s happening in Andhra, you can see, that government is advertising, plants are opening up there that is not seen in Goa. That is something we cannot expect here. We cannot expect major industrialisation. 

HERALD: The tourism policy was drafted, has anything transpired?

PJ: It is moving very slowly and this is what we have to really work on. If you are talking about industry then this is the industry that matters. It is not manufacturing but tourism that will grow in Goa. But then you will have to take really hard decisions. Decisions like the behaviour of the taxi drivers, this problem has to be sorted. Look it moves so smoothly all around in Mumbai, Delhi why not Goa. When competition comes in then there is also viability. This is a major issue. Secondly overall infrastructure has to be upgraded. We have the potential to become one of the best tourist destinations in India. We are already that but we have to start looking at international standards. Recently I was in Iceland, it is pure nature they are marketing, which we have in plenty but objections keep coming in. We are not utilizing our strengths at all. Not just 5 star culture. Goa is such a beautiful place and why are we not making use of it. Inland waters are being discussed but nothing is being done. In Iceland, they are promoting lava caves. They are marketing cave walks etc. When we participate, we think it can happen in Goa but nothing ever does. 

HERALD: What about the ease of doing business in the State? 

PJ: It should be the top priority of the new government. It is a make or break for us. If levels improve then you will see more industrialisation happening, nothing more to say.

HERALD: The issue of land, what is your impression of the present situation?

PJ: The issue of availability will always be there. It will always be scarce. We have done this new building regulation which will free 15 to 20 lakh additional land in industrial estates in now being delayed by more than a year. It will take another 6 months, now code of conduct will come and those notifications have not come. Bureaucracy could have done it faster, the TCP came into the picture, they want public hearing, the whole thing is being dragged, because it was a quick measure to free land. The other land blocked in SEZ, nothing is happening. Go to court, almost 30- 35 lakh sqm land is present.     

HERALD: Do you think adequate jobs are being created?

PJ: Job creation will take place with each unit going into production. But we need to take the jobs. There are no takers, for those kind of jobs, Goans are not coming. Everybody agrees we have to take 80% Goans but there are no takers. Even if you place advertisements you will not get people coming. There is a problem with the mindset. In this competitive world there are shift, and we get people telling us we will not work in shifts. Training can be imparted and most of the units are willing to train but people have to come. The government is keen about recruiting Goans but we are just not getting them. 

HERALD: What is your wish list after the elections?

PJ: There has to be ease of doing business, if it improves, then red tape will decrease and then investments will increase. It will come if people realise proposals will clear faster, getting power faster, now everyone is complaining. I am thinking of Banda, 75 km away visit the plant twice a week. Power may be expensive in Maharashtra but the quality is better. It is steady and my industry which is a continuous process suffers ten breaks in supply it is a problem. Make things better, simple as that.