Agencies aiding industrial growth
Anil Sastry THERE are a number of government agencies working in cohesion to aid industrial growth since a long time. Their style of functioning, concern towards investors and entrepreneurs and positive approach have helped Goa to emerge as one of the leading industrialised States in the country. Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC): The principal among those agencies is the GIDC, formerly known as Goa, Daman and Diu Industrial Development Corporation during the Union Territory days. Established in 1966 under a State Act, the corporation's main objective was to secure and assist in the rapid and orderly establishment of industries in industrial areas and industrial estates in Goa. One of the major focus of the corporation was to identify land of sizeable area for setting up industrial estates and in this direction, GIDC has so far established 22 estates - Corlim, Margao, Sancoale, Daman, Mapusa, Tivim, Bicholim, Kakoda, Honda, Bethora, Canacona, Kundaim, Diu, Tuem, Verna, Cuncolim, Pilerne, Marcaim, Pissurlem, Colvale, Shiroda, Sanguem and other places. Majority of the estates are situated within 30 km from the seashore. The corporation also offers open developed plots of sizes varying from 600 sq. metres to 2,000 sq. metres on long lease basis with easy annual instalments. The corporation gives preference to industries that are non-polluting, like agro-based, food (including fisheries) processing, tourism, electronics (including computer software manufacturing and telecommunication), bio-technology, light engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, wood carving, automotive parts, gem and jewellery, diamond cutting, garments and the like. Goa Economic Development Corporation Ltd: EDC Ltd, a government of Goa undertaking, was established in 1975 with the specific objective of playing a catalytic role in the promotion and development of industries in the State. Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd, (GHRSSIDC) was set up mainly to promote village and cottage industries, including SSIs. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, (GSIDC) is created to augment infrastructure in the State.
