INDIAN STATE : GOA

Major industries

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an important potential area for investment. Biotechnology is a knowledge intensive area and requires a high level of coordination among various disciplines such as life sciences, chemical and design engineering.

Keeping in view the strengths and advantages of the state, the biotechnology policy of the state is directed towards the development of the following sectors:

Agriculture

• Mass propagation of locally important horticulture and medicinal plant species.
  
• Mushroom Cultivation
  
• Bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides
  
• Organic farming
  
• Transgenic crops

Healthcare

• Vaccines
  
• Therapeutics
  
• Diagnostics
  
• Drug Delivery Systems
  
• Isolation of bio active molecules from native herbs
  
• Contract research and manufacturing
  
• Animal healthcare products

Industrial Biotechnology

• Fermentation of beverages, bakery and dairy products
  
• Nutraceuticals and health food supplements
  
• Bioenergy

Environmental Biotechnology

• Bioremediation
  
• Phytoremediation
  
• Bio-waste conversion and management

Bio-resource utilization

• Inventorisation, mapping, moleculer characterization and bio prospecting.

Bio-informatics

• Genomics, drug-designing, data mining, etc.

Bio services

• Contract Research
  
• Contact Manufacturing
  
• Bioinstrumentation

Marine Biotechnology

• Isolation and cultivation of elite marine organisms for value added products.

Information Technology

IT and ITES industry is very well suited to Goa owing to the industry's non-polluting nature and the fact that it makes only conservative demands on precious resources such as land, electricity and water, etc. Goa is well placed to move towards being a knowledge economy. The Government of Goa firmly believes that information technology is the key to enhancing the welfare of the citizens of Goa as IT can create employment opportunities for an increasing for an increasing proportion of the population in variety of diverse sectors.

The following incentives for investment in IT sector:-

• Goa industry incentive scheme

  All incentives made available under the industrial policy 2003 to the prospective industries intending to invest in Goa, shall also be applicable to IT and ITES units registered with ITG.

• Facilitation of entry of major players

  This will be provided to industrial houses among the top twenty companies as per NASSCOM annual listing, that intend to open branches or campuses in Goa.

• Hardware industry

  Hardware manufacturing is a priority sector for the government. Goa Goa is well suited for hardware manufacturing industry as it is endowed with with a very good harbor facility.

• Establishment of SEZ

  Government shall declare an IT park as SEZ (Special Economic Zones), which would further enable conducive atmosphere for rapid growth of IT/ITES Industry.

• Business Incubation

  The government will assist incubation of technology-based start-ups for products and services giving Goa a strategic advantage.

• Incentive for employment to locals
  
  Employment incentive to unit @ Rs. 15,000/- per employee per annum with maximum amount of Rs. 75.00 lakhs per year in one unit (for a period of 2 years starting from the date of operation).
  
  
• Reimbursement of stamp duty

  All registered IT/ITES units that purchase or lease and/or building in the notified IT park or industrial estates operated by the GIDC will be reimbursed the entire amount paid by the unit towards stamp duty.

• Higher FAR for building housing IT/ITES units

  Building located in notified IT parks will be permitted a FAR of 150.

• Availability of quality power

  The government will ensure a reliable power supply to IT/ITES units located within notified IT parks. Necessary Investment will be made in the distribution network to ensure reliability and quality of power in the IT park. IT/ITES units/companies shall be exempt from the purview of statutory power cuts.

• Exemption from the application of specific acts

  Registered IT/ITES units, except those that are engaged in manufacture of hardware equipment will be exempted from the application of Goa Pollution Control Act. The IT/ITES units shall be facilitated to operate 365 by 24 by 7.

• Incentives to promote research activities

  The government will provide grants and other benefits to units that wish to undertake activities relating to research in cutting edge technologies, particularly in advanced telecommunications area. The proposals for such grants to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh will be considered buy the government.

• Outstanding contribution awards

  Registered IT/ITES units that have completed 5 years of operation in the state will be considered for grant of one " outstanding contribution award" of Rs. 10 lakh each year in each category on the basis of objective criteria published by the government.

• Reimbursement of certification charges

  Government will reimburse actual charges or Rs. % lakhs, whichever is less for certification for ISS/ISO 9000, SEI-CMM level 5,e-SCM level 3.

• Incentives to training institutions
  
  Will be available to training centres/institutes who have successfully trained the candidates in the communication/soft skills and thereby have been able to place them in reputed IT/ITES companies for employment.
  
  
• IT industry to be notified as public utility/essential services

  IT/ITES units/companies and It hardware industry shall be notified as a public utility/ essential service under the relevant laws.

• Allocation of Land

  Government would establish IT park at a suitable location and make the land available to IT players wanting to come to Goa at suitable rate guided by the final cost to the government including development cost, if any, and market rate.

• Rebate in power tariff and applicability of industrial category tariff.
  
  
• Subsidy on power and water

Tourism

Goa has emerged as an important tourism destination in the country both for domestic and foreign tourists because of its positive tourism profile in the form of natural scenic beauty, golden and silvery sands, manmade monuments, springs, lakes and waterfalls. A blend of the eastern and western culture, very friendly and hospitable people make Goa a veritable tourist paradise. Tourism is a major economic activity of Goa and has made substantial contribution to the economic development of the state in terms of employment generation and valuable foreign exchange earnings to the nation.

Tourism has emerged as a focal point for development in the state. The innovative marketing strategies to project Goa as an all time destination for tourism has started giving better results. The slogan " Go Goa 365 days on a holiday" has become a known brand throughout the world, thereby attracting large number of tourists. The state has made an initiative to forge public-private partnership for the promotion of tourism by instituting a corpus fund.