Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), in their pre-budget memorandum, has urged the state government to introduce Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) on lines with the central governments initiative.
GSIA led by its President Damodar Kochkar presented pre-Budget memorandum to the chief minister ahead of the Budget Assembly Session scheduled to begin in March.
“We request that a Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) should be introduced in line with Central Government Policy making it mandatory for all Government Departments/Undertakings to purchase a minimum of 20 per cent of their annual purchase of products and services from MSEs, the memorandum reads.
The GSIA has said that this initiative will help the government increase their revenue by way of higher collection of SGST and will generate more economic activity and employment in the state.
All these years, mining was the major contributor to states revenue and other sectors were not given the desired attention by the state government.
After the closure of the mining industry and the tourism sector not picking up as expected due to coronavirus pandemic, manufacturing industry is the only sector which can bring about overall development and create inclusive growth in the state, the Association has said.
Speaking about Ease of Doing Business, the Association has said that the initiatives taken to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) are not felt on the ground. For better implementation, the initiatives should be properly monitored and executed.
The GSIA has said that state government should ensure that Single Window System is properly implemented.
At present, online services are not very effective, process is cumbersome and the government staff is not trained to provide assistance.
The server infrastructure of IT Department also needs improvement, the Association said. The industry body has also demanded that the government should Stop arbitrary revenue collection without giving due consideration to practical situation on the ground.
Stop insisting NOCs from certain departments and marking routine files to the Ministers. Improve work culture in the Departments so that files are not held up with frivolous queries, the Association has said.
