Panaji: Goa should leverage India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to take its traditional products, including cashew, feni, mangoes and bebinca, to international markets, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday, calling for improved quality, packaging and certification to make local products globally competitive.
Addressing a state-level workshop on leveraging FTAs in Panaji, Sawant said the trade agreements offered opportunities for Goan businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to access overseas markets, expand exports and connect with international buyers.
He said India’s growing engagement with global markets under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership had opened up avenues for domestic businesses to expand their international presence.
Referring to the Centre’s Make in India initiative and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Sawant stressed the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing, encourage entrepreneurship and increase exports.
Goa has the potential to promote its distinctive local products in overseas markets, but businesses must focus on maintaining product quality, improving packaging, obtaining the necessary certifications and adopting effective global marketing strategies, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the state’s infrastructure advantages, including Mormugao Port, Manohar International Airport and highway connectivity, which could support export-oriented businesses.
Assuring support to MSMEs, exporters, manufacturers and young entrepreneurs, Sawant urged them to explore international trade opportunities, expand their businesses and generate employment.
The workshop, themed “Goa to the World — Unlocking Global Trade Opportunities”, was organised by the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce, Government of Goa, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Office of the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Mumbai.
It brought together policymakers, industry representatives and trade experts to discuss how FTAs could help local enterprises access international markets and strengthen their export capabilities.
The discussions also focused on export procedures, compliance with international standards and ways to enable local businesses to benefit from trade agreements.
Among those present were Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce; Santosh Sukhadeve, Goa’s Secretary for Industries; Ankit Yadav, Director at ITC; R K Mishra, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade; Rajkumar Kamat, chairman of VGF; and Sanjay Amonkar, Director General of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The workshop aimed to familiarise local entrepreneurs and manufacturers with the opportunities available under India’s trade agreements and encourage them to expand their presence in global markets.
