Lot of companies evincing interest in investing in Goa: Rohan Khaunte

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

Minister for Information Technology (IT) Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday said that a lot of outside companies have started showing interest in investing in Goa.

According to him, the IT policy, start-up policy and implementation of numerous industrial schemes have led to a lot of expectations from outside industries which see the state as a destination for better return on investment.

“While the outside industry is looking to invest in Goa for a higher return on investment, we are looking at it from the employment point of view,” said Khaunte at the launch event of Vibrant Goa, a global expo and trade summit, to be held between October 17-19, 2019.

He said the Goans are different from residents of other states in many ways which is why outsiders are attracted to the state, in particular due to the quality of life and vibrancy in culture.

“We have a real opportunity to make Goa a IT destination,” said Khaunte, pointing out that it was easier to do business in the state now as most government departments have gone online and this has given a pace to the procedures.

Referring to activists opposing the Chimbel IT park, he said that “all future steps will be through participatory forum but with the right stakeholders.”

The Vibrant Goa Summit was launched in the presence of local industrialists and special invitees such as Shrinivas Dempo, chairman of Dempo Group of Companies, Pramod Sawant, Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and Vishal Prakash, chief executive officer of Investment Promotion Board.

Dempo, speaking on the occasion, said that he is a firm believer of the ‘Vibrant’ model. “Our group actively participated in three Vibrant Gujarat series which led to our signing of a MOU with the Gujarat government to start a ship building unit in that state,” he said.

He further said that Dempo Group is planning to invest Rs 500 crore in the next four years in Goa in the fields of tourism (with a five star hotel project in South Goa) and a state-of-the-art educational institution among other projects.

Earlier, Dr Jagat Shah, founder and chief mentor, Global Network and the brain behind Vibrant Gujarat and the Vibrant business series across India, introduced the audience to objectives and philosophy behind the summit.

Nitin Kunkolienkar, chairman, Vibrant Goa Foundation and Rajkumar Kamat, president, Vibrant Goa Foundation, spelled out the finer details.

A total of 17 international road shows across five continents and 20 road shows across India will drum up support for the Vibrant Goa Summit. Road shows will be accompanied by at least two Goan businessmen who will get the opportunity to interact with counterparts from
outside.