State forms panel to boost ease of doing biz, living in Goa | Goa News
Panaji: Industries department has constituted a high-level committee headed by chief minister Pramod Sawant to work on reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business (EoDB) and ease of living in Goa.The committee has chief secretary Dr V Candavelou as the co-convener and includes cabinet ministers holding the industries, town and country planning, urban development, transport, revenue, and other portfolios. Senior bureaucrats, department heads, and representatives of business associations such as CII, GSIA, GCCI, TTAG, and ASSOCHAM are also part of the 37-member panel.The committee’s mandate includes identifying and implementing priority reforms to improve Goa’s position in national and international ease of doing business rankings.The panel will also discuss measures to streamline regulatory processes, reduce compliance burdens on businesses, and enhance citizen-centric service delivery under the ease of living framework. It has further been tasked with monitoring reform progress, resolving cross-departmental bottlenecks, and ensuring accountability across govt departments.This initiative comes as Goa seeks to strengthen its reform efforts and deepen institutional mechanisms for economic and social governance. Earlier, the state released its guidelines for the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2024, which mandate the use of PAN as a common business identifier and the integration of the ‘know your approvals’ module with the national single window system.Goa has made progress in national EoDB assessments, ranking 16th overall and being classified as a ‘leader’ in startup ecosystem. However, observers note that significant work remains to be done, particularly in reducing red tape, removing outdated laws, and improving end-user feedback mechanisms.
