SEZs most suitable form of industrial development for Goa, says GCCI chief
NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Nov 7 After lifting of tax holiday for Goan industries by the central government, special economic zones are most suitable form of industrial development for the state, with SEZs pertaining to IT, bio-technology, bio-marine technology, electronic assembly, entertainment and tourism centric activities on lower level being preferred for Goa. The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Mr Nitin Kuncolienkar today informally interacting with the media said that such type of SEZs will house non-polluting units, which could generate more jobs for the locals and put less pressure on water and power resources. In fact, the SEZs, as announced by the government will have to make their own arrangements for power and water, he said, pointing out that the raw water from rivers as well as gas-based power generation units would help the SEZs a great deal. Speaking further, Mr Kuncolienkar said that the error on the part of the government is that it has not made a detailed study about the SEZs to be set up in the state. “Again it is very important to know what kind of SEZs would be desirable to the state rather than how many SEZs are suitable for Goa,” he added. The GCCI president said that IT SEZs, especially those with call centres and application units could generate large employment for locals, with the salaries zooming up from current Rs 5,000 per month to Rs 15,000 per month. Mr Kuncolienkar also said that there are at least 10,000 to 15,000 Goan youth working in IT units outside Goa and want to return to their native state if the IT SEZs can provide jobs to them. Stating that SEZs are either incentives or scams as one may see them, Mr Kuncolienkar observed that the perception about these industrial zones is relative. He rubbished the fear that there would be large influx of workforce once the SEZs are established in the state. The IT industry is manpower centric and the units in the IT SEZs would be looking for employees in Goa. The GCCI chief further maintained that the state should not look up to the big IT giants to set up IT shops in Goa, but concentrate on small IT companies who may become success stories. Stressing that the state should have an integrated economic policy, including education/ human resource development, Mr Kuncolienkar maintained that serious attention should be given for developing manpower in the state. “The opposition to the SEZs from the locals is mainly coming from the gap existing between the jobs available in the SEZs and the underdeveloped local manpower,” he added. The opposition is also due to the lack of trust of the people in the system, The GCCI president said. Remarking that the state needs the SEZs which suit it, Mr Kuncolienkar said that there should be a larger intellectual deliberation on the SEZ issue. Replying to a question, Mr Kuncolienkar said that SEZ is a notified area within the jurisdiction of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and there certainly exists checks for these industrial zones. The GCCI president also said that China gives subsidies to its entrepreneurs on the condition that they manufacture the products, with 18 per cent effective subsidy. “China is playing economic war to kill the regions like India,” he observed. Mr Kuncolienkar maintained that pharmaceutical units in Goa were presently offering good salaries with minimum wages raised from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000. He also stated that an executive of a company arriving in Goa automatically trains few locals, adding “this sort of migration was needed for Goans to wake them up from their laid-back attitude.” Finally, Mr Kuncolienkar said that the vested interests and not economy was developing in Goa, and that there is a need to balance it out with lot of efforts including manpower mapping. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=11087 - Forwarded by: Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit: http://www.live365.com/stations/61664 Goa's first and only Konkani music station online, brought to you by Ulysses Menezes & Gaspar Almeida of www.goa-world.com based in Kuwait. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com