Panaji, September 12: Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has said the state government should work on regaining the confidence of investors, which is lost due to agitations against various projects.
The government had decided to scrap approved as well as notified SEZs (due to protest). The information technology park, along with most other developmental activities, is facing stiff opposition from some quarters, GCCI president Cesar Menezes has said in a memorandum to Chief Minister Digamber Kamat.
These developments have made the investing class quite apprehensive about the role of the government. They are waiting for clear direction on investment scenario in the tourist state, he said.
The GCCI, earlier this week, presented a post-budget memorandum to Kamat, who also holds finance portfolio, listing various expectations of the trade and industry.
The chamber, pointing out at the protests against various development projects, has said that in most cases, the opposition is led by self-styled local leaders.
“Most agitations are led by self-styled local leaders who don’t have any regard for democratically elected representatives. At times, they do not hesitate to take the law into their own hands and stop duly approved projects,” Menezes said.
The GCCI, while appreciating the concern of citizens and NGOs for safeguarding environment and ecology, said it is alarmed by the tendency of voluntary groups to overstretch their argument with utter disregard for issues concerning development, employment, investment, revenue and others.
Highlighting the grievances of the existing industries, Meneze said since 2004 there had been no tax incentives for industries in Goa.
“This will lead to outflow of investment from Goa, resulting in reduction in the state’s revenue and rise in unemployment.”
The GCCI has suggested that Goa should come out with an alternate model to create conducive climate for attracting investment and address logistics and infrastructural issues.
–Agencies