HERALD: You will be taking over as the president of GCCI on July 1. What are your immediate priorities?
SANDIP BHANDARE: Any organisation, especially like GCCI, is a containing organisation and therefore the agenda is something which is also a continuation of the past that has happened and happening, but there will also be something new. All activities which have already been started will continue to happen and will not be abandoned. The legacy of the past will continue.
HERALD: What new activities have you planned?
SB: I would like to pursue particularly two activities. One of course, is the awareness drive for Goods and Services Tax (GST) and second is attractive investment in Goa which is suited more for Goans, which includes employment generation with minimum carbon foot print.
HERALD: What plans do you have for GST awareness drive?
SB: As far as the GST is concerned, there are few things which we would like to do, some of which we are already doing. First of course is the issue of educating the trader and merchant communities to develop its indigenous expertise through experts like chartered accountants and tax consultants to guide those people who require hand-holding. Also, we will address the issues like in what way Goa will be directly affected by the incoming GST.
HERALD: What events are you planning to educate people on GST?
SB: GCCI has been conducting seminars on GST already and we have received very good response. At the moment we are addressing the top level people in the industry but we are trying to put across a point that it will also have an effect on many other functionaries. For example, several departments will be involved in the new tax regime, which includes departments like logistics, import, treasury etc.
We are also planning to have a national level two-day seminar in Goa on July 14-15 this year and preparation for this has already begun. In this seminar we will try and bring in 8-10 expert speakers from all across India who will help us analyse the various Acts, clause by clause in the GST, threadbare. Along with it our normal awareness drive will continue. We are also trying to train the professionals and develop local talents in the line of train the trainers.
HERALD: Is GCCI receiving any representation, especially from five star hotels, on whether the GST could affect their business adversely?
SB: Yes, we are getting representation from several industries as Goa is a tourism driven State. Some of the five star resorts are concerned to see themselves in the bracket of 28 per cent GST. They have mentioned that foreign guests who book their resort will surely compare the GST on resorts with other resorts across the world, which is much less. Since we are a tourism-dependent State, which includes employment and revenue, we have to see what kind of impact it will have. If it does, then we may have to put across this point to the government. Other states which are not depended on tourism may not be affected as adversely as Goa-based five star resorts.
HERALD: In terms of getting investment to Goa, we already have Investment Promotion Board (IPB). What role can GCCI play?
SB: GCCI is very fortunate that two of our members are also part of the IPB which was restructured recently. This will help us to have our little say in the IPB for the good of Goa. Investment in Goa is a critical balance between the development and the environment and we would like to continue this. Job creation for Goans is the issue. It may not be through a manufacturing industry, it can happen through a service industry too. We are good in terms of IT, education, pharma, creativity, research etc. We can take these sectors forward.
HERALD: You have various sectoral committees in GCCI. What steps are you going to take to revamp these committees for better output?
SB: One person cannot do justice to an organisation. It has to be team work. All have to come together, align their work with the goals of organisation like the GCCI and individually all committees can work in different compartments but the goal should be to take GCCI forward. We function because all these committees are functional. However, I have plans to bring-in some new fresh minds in these committees to break the setting-in of comfort-level. I also have a plan to set up an agenda for these committees and they can align themselves with the GCCI targets and goals.
