Goa channel seek govt help

PANJIM, GOA: Goa, the tourism capital of India, is a growing IT market in the West. The emergence of industries, especially of pharmaceutical companies, has given a significant boost to the IT market there. But the global recession has hit the Goa IT market as well.

The channels feel that the demand for IT products has taken a down swing recently as the corporate has stopped there spend on IT infrastructure. Even the retail segment is opting out from buying, as they want to keep their money safe for a rain day.

Besides, the government’s ambitious Cyberage student scheme is also eating a lot of marketshare of the channel community. Under the scheme students are being given desktops for a nominal price.

Dinesh Pal Vernekar of Computer Shoppee, said, “Cyberage scheme is eating the marketshare of channels. The government is buying through a handful of dealers. The rest has no role into it.” He claimed that sometimes the desktops distributed under the scheme are sold in the market again, it is a way for people to make money or get rid of extra PCs.

According to industry sources, the market size is about 1,000 desktop and notebooks; and about Rs 36 crore annually.

Shrivallabh Sardesai of Comtech said that the market has evolved very well in the last few years. Government sector, corporate houses, institutions and retails are the major buyers in the town. “The demand for notebooks is also growing with every passing day. But the high prices are a deterrent,” he added.

The average sales price is around Rs 25,000-30,000, though high price notebook and PCs are also in demand. HP, Zenith and Acer are major brands in demand in the city.

Industry people believe that only government can bail out the local channel. They want the government to start e-governance projects as it would create new markets. Besides, they also want to see some changes in law.

Prashant Kuncolienkar of Computeronics Infotech complained that a 12.5 percent VAT is imposed on multi function printers, as it is classified as non-IT product. Whereas in nearby Maharashtra and Karnataka it is classified as an IT product and draws a VAT of 4.5 percent. “Why should someone buy it from Goa, if it’s available for a cheaper price in a near by city?” He asked. Kuncolienkar said that similar was the case with toners used for laser printers.