The consensus of panelists at the debate, ‘Ease of doing business in Goa’ was that the State was the worst place to do business. Panelists were unanimous that the factors that affect the business climate ranged from red tape, corruption, local agitations and unscrupulous RTI activists. The impression one got was that business is dead and everyone wants to get out as quickly as possible. On the contrary, the number of entrepreneurs who want to open shop here is increasing. The Investment Promotion Board (IPB) is clearing proposals as quickly as it can and not without a few controversies. So is Goa really a difficult place to open a new business? Goa is as good or as bad as the rest of India, which ranks 130 out of 189 countries on ease of doing business. India realized only when it was bankrupt that it needed to unshackle the corporate sector. Now it is beginning to realise that sustained growth can be only be achieved with the corporate sector as an engine. But to achieve growth it needs to reduce red tape and reduce corruption, both difficult tasks. While Goa set up the IPB as a single window for large industries it needs to create a similar platform for small and medium sized business. Fortunately or unfortunately, opposition to projects cannot be wished away and entrepreneurs will have to live with it. We are a democracy, not a dictatorship.
