MAPUSA
Industries Minister Mauvin Gondinho on Friday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the Tata group of companies was very interested in investing in Goa and the taskforce proposed earlier will be set up within a week.
Godinho also said that many industries were in constant touch and wanted to set shop in the State but the government was very selective on types of industries to be set up in the State.
“Tatas is a renowned brand and they are very much interested in coming to Goa. In fact, their presence is very much there. One of the most sophisticated machines is manufactured by Tatas in Goa. They are interested in expanding more of their companies. The Chief Minister is about to form the taskforce which will help to interact with the Tata Group on a monthly basis. In less than a week, the taskforce will be formed,” Godinho said while responding to Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai during the Question Hour.
Sardesai said the government had last year announced a meeting with Chairman of Tata Sons Natarajan Chandrashekaran and to constitute a taskforce but even after a year nothing has happened.
“Does it take one year to form a taskforce?” he asked.
He said the Goa Industrial Growth and Investment Promotion Policy formulated by the government had promised 30,000 jobs and Rs 20,000 crore investment.
“There are several thousands of companies in India but only 28 companies have shown interest in Goa. Has the government taken any steps to promote Goa among the industrialists?” he asked.
The Industries Minister informed that soon after announcing the policy, he went and interacted with various chamber of commerce officials in Gujarat, Mumbai, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
He said he had stressed the point that the industrialists can do business with pleasure in the State because Goa was also a tourism destination.
“After the policy, we have received a lot of requests. A lot of industries want to come but they either fall in the red category or they are polluting type. We are very specific about what type of industries we want. We want to encourage tourism-related or pharma-related industries in the State,” Godinho said.
