Panaji, Jan 7 (KNN) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday highlighted the need for Goa to reduce its dependence on Tourism and diversify its economic base.

It is only then that the goal of Swayampurna Goa and through that, the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat can be made a reality, he added.

He was speaking at the Goa MSME Adhiveshan in Panaji in presence of Union Minister of Micro, MSME Narayan Rane.

Thanking the Union Minister for his advice and guidance, he urged representatives of MSME sector to utilize all the various schemes and incentives launched by both the Central and State Governments.

The meet was organized by Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) in association with the Department of Trade, Industries & Commerce, Government of Goa.

It is a conference of representatives of the MSME sector in Goa, intended to serve as a platform to network, ideate and share knowledge.

At the event, Goa Chapter of LUB expressed its resolve to focus on increasing exports and creating industrial clusters that generate employment and promote entrepreneurship in the State.

Speaking at the event, Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane thanked Laghu Udyog Bharati for their selfless efforts to bring dynamism to the Indian economy.

He said a permanent industry is an absolute necessity for a State to generate stable income and urged the State of Goa to formulate concrete plans to ensure there is booming industrial activity.

He called for all stakeholders to work together and instill more vibrancy in the State’s economy.

He further highlighted the need for the MSME sector to have lofty goals and ambitions.

Noting that around 96 per cent of the industries in the State are in the micro category, Minister Narayan Rane stated there is immense potential for growth in the sector.

He informed that the MSME sector is also an area that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes keen interest in.

He added that the Prime Minister regularly seeks status updates on the rate of growth in the MSME sector.

Also present on the occasion were National Vice President of LUB, Ravindra Sonawane, Punjab National Bank Executive Director Vijay Dubey and Head of Startups & SME at BSE India, Ajay Thakur.  (KNN Bureau)