Fortify IPB with adequate manpower: GCCI

NT NETWORK

Panaji

Concerned over the inadequate manpower at the Investment Promotion Board, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has sought additional staff for the board so that it functions effectively.

GCCI president Sandip Bhandare said on Wednesday that the IPB, which is being entrusted with more responsibilities, needs to be strengthened by hiring sufficient staff.

“We are not against the responsibilities, but it could affect the core function of the board,” said Bhandare, who met with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant last week.

Although most of the additional responsibilities are connected to each other, yet they have their own set of inputs and need attention, he said.

“Taking on multiple responsibilities in the absence of staff is likely to place additional burden on the IPB and shift its focus from the main role of attracting investors,” Bhandare explained.

In GCCI’s view the IPB has not been completely successful in attracting investors.

“The board should act as one-window system. However, right now it is perceived as an additional window instead of single window,” the GCCI president observed.

The industry representative body wants the IPB to play a more proactive role in bringing in industrial projects from outside the state.

According to the GCCI, presently investors have to look at each of the compliance individually, which was not the original purpose of the board.

“The government has to ensure that the IPB becomes the focal point which can take care of everything. The board should do the complete handholding till the project goes on-stream,” said GCCI members who had their first meeting with the Chief Minister.

IPB’s chief executive officer Vishal Prakash has been appointed as the new head of the state startup cell.

Furthermore he has also been asked to formulate the logistics policy as well as the export policy.

“The new Chief Minister is aware of the importance of the IPB and already had his first meeting with Prakash,” said Bhandare, who hoped that the board starts meeting regularly in future.

Senior GCCI members raised number of issues relating to industry. The issues include the interrupted power supply faced by units, the early release of the SEZ land in industrial estates, the improved broadband connectivity to IT startups and the ease of doing business.