VASCO
The Goan Industry stakeholders on Sunday urged the new government for transparency in the administration and eradication of corruption to help Goa develop at a faster pace and bring in new investment.
In a joint press note issued by Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) President Damodar Kochkar, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Ralph De Sousa, CREDAI Chairman Nilesh Salkar and Verna Industries Association President Pradeep Da Costa, stakeholders have maintained that the government must provide a convenient and easy mechanism for regulatory compliances and inspections.
“At present, some departments call for various audits and inspections in piecemeal which are burdening the industries and discourage growth. Multiple regulatory compliances with yearly renewals delay the process and turn away good investors from the State. Stakeholders should be given representation on planning authorities and boards. The industry wants the government to provide a conducive business environment covering ease of doing business,” said the joint press note.
“Goa government claims that it has put many services online but it is only on paper and the actual effect is not felt on the ground. There are several teething problems and a lot of follow-up visits to departments concerned are required to get any work done. The work of putting the services online has been given to a government undertaking which does not have the technical expertise and know-how to do the job. The industries want that this work should be given to a professional agency,” the press note added further.
“We also desire that the industry-related corporations should be headed by professionals and qualified administrators with a proven track record. Even if political appointees are made, they should be involved in policy-making decisions and not in the day-to-day functioning of the corporations. Politicians have their own priorities and overall business expansion suffers,” the stakeholders said.
They said knowing the financial condition of the State, the industries were not asking for any monetary incentives, but enablers to stimulate efficiency and productivity in the industrial sector. We fully support the new government and hope it will seriously consider the wish list of the industries, they added.
Govt urged not to refer routine files to ministers
VASCO: The industry stakeholders have urged the new government, not to refer routine files like power and water connections to minsters.
They have called for Transparent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with timelines for each service to the industries so that there is clarity while working with government departments. SOPs will ensure a corruption-free environment, they added.
