PANAJI
President of Goa Mineral Ore Exports Association, Ambar Timblo has stated that a major source of foreign exchange earnings for the state of Goa has been paused due to ban on mining.
Speaking at an export conclave, Timblo further states that foreign exchange earnings can again be resumed without any financial assistance or incentive from the government once mining activities restart in the state.
Officials, experts and stakeholders from the fields of tourism, aviation, port, manufacturing industry participated in the Goa Export conclave and expressed their views.
“The foreign exchange earnings of the Goan mining industry in 2010-11 was 3.8 billion dollars. The foreign exchange earnings at the time of suspension were Rs 17,200 crore. That gets closed and for 90 months you don’t have any of it,” states Timblo.
Mentioning further Timblo adds, “The direct and indirect people involved in the business is approximately 300,000 people which is a fifth of Goa’s population. So, a fifth of Goa’s population was generating those 14,000 dollars of foreign exchange every year. I have a feeling that the only other industry in India is probably the IT sector, other than the mineral resources. Moving further, solutions have been given.”
Stating that we submitted this to the government, Timblo deliberates, “The government has taken it up with the union. So, the new mines Act brought forward in 2015 by the Prime Minister of India where it has afforded 50 years tenure to all mining leases in the country and the same to be naturally extended to Goa. Goa has that problem of not being born on the same day as other states but it was born later and that’s why there is a mismatch.”
India is moving with a target of achieving the export of one trillion dollars by 2027-28 and accordingly work on the State level has been undertaken. The Export conclave in Goa is a step towards this direction. Experts from tourism, port, manufacturing, industries, air transport etc have participated in the conclave.
The meeting was assured that even after the commissioning of Mopa airport, the Dabolim airport (the civilian and navy) will continue to function. That meant Goa would be the only place to have a unique status of having two airports in very close proximity. Pointing out to the fact that Goa has 250 km of navigable rivers, the conclave was told that this mode of transport could be revived.
