To make Goa drone mfg hub, state frames policy

Panaji: In a bid to make Goa a drone manufacturing hub, the state government on Monday released the Goa Drone Policy, the third state in the country to do so. The policy, which aims to encourage manufacturing, testing and maintenance of drones in Goa, hopes to bring in private investment into the state.
“The government of Goa aims to position itself as one of the key states in India’s drone ecosystem,” said IT minister Rohan Khaunte. “We would like to promote and incentivise drone design, manufacturing, testing and maintenance facilities, along with training, thus making Goa a drone manufacturing hub.”
The policy hopes to use drones for delivery of citizen services and governance while also exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the agriculture, forestry, horticulture, healthcare, mining, security and tourism sectors.
Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), are miniature aircraft that can operate remotely. Drones can be deployed in key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, mining, surveillance, emergency response, transportation, geospatial mapping, law enforcement, aerial photography and filmmaking.
Recognising the potential of the drone sector and in a bid to attract drone companies to Goa, the state government hopes to use the opportunity to bring in investment as well as generate employment.
The Goa Drone Policy aims to promote drone testing and adoption by demarcating free-fly zones within the state which can be used by drone enthusiasts, companies and drone schools.
The state’s IT department has also set up an additive manufacturing hub or a 3D printing lab that innovators and startups can use to rapidly develop prototypes.
On the Tuem electronic manufacturing cluster, Khaunte said plot allotment at the EMC park is under way with the government trying to woo companies from emerging technology sectors such as drones, semiconductors, electric vehicles and others.
Khaunte also said the IT department intends to create a concept of a design village which will include product engineering, design and testing of all electronics or emerging sector technologies for future applications.
“The key focus of the village would be creative technologies. Goa aspires to make this a one of its kind modern village in the world,” said Khaunte.
The drone policy was launched by Khaunte along with chief minister Pramod Sawant.