Citizens’ Research Collective on SEZ

Panaji, November 19, 2007: Taking cognisance of the growing opposition to special economic zones, the managing committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has decided to recommend to the government that it set up a SEZ review committee.

The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by the GCCI president, Mr Nitin Kunkolienker and it was felt that all the concerned parties/stakeholders should be allowed to make a detailed presentation and the government should take appropriate steps following the outcome of the review committee report.

The chamber has welcomed the setting up of a sub-committee of ministers by the government to study the feasibility of SEZs in Goa. The GCCI on its part has also decided to organise a seminar of all stakeholders and NGOs in the first week of December to arrive at some logical conclusion.

A press release issued here by the GCCI states that chamber was committed to the economic development of the state and welfare of its citizens and that its thrust has always been on the economic development of the state which would bring in prosperity, inclusive growth and enhance the quality of life of its citizens.

The chamber feels that the economic development should precede growth and the thrust of the state should be on economic activity rather than mere financial activity, states the press release.

The GCCI has advocated the economic development in the state in a sustainable manner within the framework of available infrastructure, protecting the environment and providing gainful employment to the available skill sets within the state. The press note also states that Goa failed to attract any major industrial investment in the last 4 to 5 years.

Quoting the Economic Survey of Goa 2006-2007, the chamber has stated that 2.45 lakh people in the age group of 10-20 would enter the job market in next few years and were already 1 lakh unemployed youth in the state. As such 2.35 lakh jobs would have to be created.

The government on its own would not be in a position to provide employment to these youths. Hence these youths have no alternative but to look for jobs and carrier opportunities outside the state of Goa. The chamber is deeply concerned about this issue.

The GCCI is of the view that only planned industrial development could generate well-paid jobs for the Goans and that one of the possible ways to attract good investments for growth of industrial sector and address the issue of unemployment in Goa was through properly developed and industry specific SEZs.

The GCCI has felt that a proper impact assessment needed to be done before approval is granted by the government and that it was of the view that the state should have a cautious approach while developing the SEZs in Goa, exercising the precautions.

It has also stated that given the limited availability of land, SEZs should be only industry specific and that industries allowed should be environment friendly and that industries should employ locally available skill sets so that the Goans get maximum employment opportunities.

The SEZs should not put additional pressure on the already strained local infrastructure like water, power, roads etc and their number should be restricted after studying aspects of employment opportunities vis-à-vis stress on the social infrastructure. Land provided for SEZs if not developed within the timeframe should be reverted to the government.

The chamber has stated that the government while formulating the state SEZ policy did not consult it and that it did not support commercial real estate development in the non-processing area of the SEZs.

The chamber has stated that all the SEZs coming up in the area made available by Goa IDC be put on the hold until the task force gives its assessment regarding the impact on the existing infrastructure in the state, ecology, demography, socio-cultural heritage and economic growth.

The GCCI has urged the government to urgently address the infrastructural deficiencies faced by the existing industries in Goa before any approvals for SEZs were accorded. It has also apprehended that without a sound policy the SEZ route might be used by some unscrupulous parties to create land banks, for speculative purposes.

Source: The Navhind Times