Goa woos IT industry, launches agenda

GOA: Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parikkar, has announced the Cyber Age students scheme, a project that would be beneficial to the young students as it would enable them to own a PC at home. The Chief Minister was attending the Goa Agenda — IT for Society meet here in Goa. He said that the State’s IT Policy Draft recommended the creation of co-located R&D Labs by creating a National Technology Park. The meet was inaugurated by Kidar Nath Sahani, Governor of Goa in the presence of Parrikar, Francis D’Souza, Minister for IT, Ramarao Dessai, Minister for Industries and Dr Wilfred de Souza, Deputy Chairman, Planning Board, Goa.

Nitin Kunkolienker, President of GCCI, in his welcome address said that the Goa Agenda was proposed by the Chamber in association with the Government of Goa to promote the use of IT for the society and in turn help in the development process.

He also suggested that the conducive atmosphere of Goa should be used by the IT industry in establishing their outlets in Goa. Parrikar promised to make Goa the first computer literate state in the country. He appealed to the industrialists to come to Goa with their business enterprises and utilize the computer literate manpower and promised to give them conducive atmosphere and good infrastructure.

D’Souza said that Information contributes upto 40 percent to the GDP. When the economy gears up to service more than a billion Indians with information, and not material, it will drive towards the key to success. He promised to bring e-governance at the earliest.

Dessai listed the benefits available to industry in Goa and appealed to the industrialists to make Goa their destination. Dr Wilfred de Souza urged the IT intelligentsia to create R&D Laboratories in the field of IT, agriculture and biotechnology to take India ahead and put in on the development track. He said that IT is the key for development.

Sahani said that the natural eco-friendly ambience in Goa makes it an ideal location for the right thinking process and development of IT industry. He advised that the deliberations should focus on bringing about positive factors, which would help develop Goa.