‘Strong potential in marine, agri exports’

Panaji: Shifting away from the iron ore mining industry after decades, Goa’s exports now focus on the pharmaceutical sector and marine industry, but in order for the latter to become a prime exporter, the sector needs infrastructural improvements. Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has recommended market linkages that will enable farmers and food processing units to contribute to Goan agri-export.
GCCI had organised a stakeholders’ consultation along with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and state government to see how export hubs can be created in each district.
While speaking about Goa’s Agri-Export policy, director general of GCCI, Sanjay Amonkar pointed out that the policy needs to address the allied sectors such as fisheries and animal husbandry in the policy as there is huge potential in marine exports.
“The consultation suggested that the marine sector needs many infrastructural improvements as it is one of the prime exporting sector of Goa,” said GCCI in a statement.
“There was also a request for state of the art lab testing facilities, phyto-sanitary measures to be established in Goa which will save time and cost of exports as currently testing has to be done from outside the state.”
At the meeting, GCCI once again pressed for a local DGFT office or support from local government in setting up a Directorate of Exports headed by an IAS officer. As the director for exports, the IAS officer should be given the authority to solve issues of exporters, developing market linkages and hand-holding aspiring exporters.
Directorate of Industries, Trade & Commerce functional manager Himanshu Patnekar gave a detailed presentation on export initiatives by the through notified export strategy for the state developed in collaboration with Federation of Indian Export Organisations. The strategy revolves around facilitation towards policy, infrastructure, common facility, ease of doing business and investment promotion. He also mentioned some of the initiatives such as notifying the Balli container yard as an inland container depot, EU Aviation Security Validated Regulated Agents certification for Goa International Airport and export inspection agency lab to setup at Verna industrial estate.
GCCI also congratulated the state government for completing a successful hundred days and thanked chief minister Pramod Sawant hearing out the industry’s requirements and providing an opportunity to give suggestions to improve governance under Ease of doing business.