Industry expectations from the next Goa Government

While government priorities change, based on various factors, industry expectations largely remain same.

- Ramrai Naik

THE HIGH VOLTAGE election campaign came to a halt; and yet again we saw impressive voters’ turnout in the state assembly polls. The manifestos presented by political parties have promised jobs, development, doubling of social security schemes, improved public transportation, world class infrastructure, making Goa a model state etc.

The delivery of those promises would take a lot of time if the next government doesn’t set the priority areas right. The state has done exceedingly well with social infrastructure lately, but that has come at an ever increasing cost to the exchequer. Business associations across the State and nation have complained about the government’s negligence in creating a friendly business environment within the State. Ease of Doing Business and free flowing investment will foster the growth story of the state in the years to come.

On the other side, the government has to keep a check on the debt which has accumulated over a period of time and is ever increasing due to poor revenue generating sources. Although the debt is not bad in the economy, what is bad is the focus area of the government’s expenditure. While government priorities change based on various factors, industry expectations largely remain the same, especially those of the industry stakeholders in Goa.