Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday told the NITI Ayog during its meeting in New Delhi that the Iron Ore mining “may start in the financial year 2023-24.”
Addressing the meeting in presence of PM Narendra Modi, Sawant also said that the coastal state has turned the G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings into opportunities to promote state’s tourism industry.
Sawant said that in order to resume mining activities in the State, Government of Goa has taken steps for auctioning of iron ore mineral blocks.
“The First auction of four iron ore mineral blocks has been successfully completed in December 2022 and the Government has received an upfront payment of Rs. 43 crores from them. It is expected that these four mineral blocks may start mining activity in the financial year 2023-24,” he added.
The chief minister said that In the second auction of five more Mining Blocks has also been completed in April 2023.
Referring to the meetings of G20 and the SCO, Sawant thanked PM for assigning the highest number of these meetings to Goa.
“I thank the Hon’ble PM for assigning the highest number of nine G20 meetings and four SCO meetings which has been a blessing to the State,” he said.
Sawant said that grabbing the opportunity in both hands we have turned it into one of the best promotion opportunity to Goa’s tourism industry.
The hospitality offered by the State has earned appreciation from Foreign Ministers as well as Foreign delegates. Goa has turned in vibrant and lively atmosphere due to these summits, he added.
Sawant said that Government of Goa under “Preferential Purchase Incentives for Micro and Small Enterprises Scheme”, encourages and give boost to MSMEs in the State by giving them special treatment in any tender floated by Government Department/Corporations.
