PANAJI: Expressing confidence that Goa can become one of the top startup destinations in the country, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday invited entrepreneurs and startups to make Goa their base.
The chief minister, who was speaking at the Goa Startup Conclave Entrepreneurship Summit Anth Prerana, said that the state government would provide all the required support to hand hold statups and innovators.
Sawant also said that the new Goa Startup Policy would offer benefits for startups and student entrepreneurs in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
“I see a clear opportunity for Goa to emerge as a top startup hub, not just for entrepreneurs and innovators from Goa, but also for those from across India, who want to make Goa their base and their place for business,” Sawant said.
Outlining the likely sectors where startups could help innovate, the chief minister said information technology, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry and fisheries, mining, art, culture, designing and shipbuilding were good avenues to look at.
Earlier in the day, former director of Infosys, one of India’s most prolific angel investors T V Mohandas Pai, said that Goa’s startup ecosystem cannot flourish by hosting conclaves and what is needed is actual action by the state government.
“We will ensure that this policy will benefit the stakeholders of this ecosystem in Goa today,” said Sawant.
Earlier, secretary for power and chief electoral officer for Goa Kunal and secretary for revenue and IT Sanjay Kumar urged startups to collaborate and share their ideas with the government in order to improve service delivery.
The last day also witnessed a live speed pitching session where 20 shortlisted entrepreneurs from incubators across the state pitched their ideas to 12 angel investors within 120 seconds.
