Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Nov 19: In a push to strengthen India’s global standing under the World Bank’s newly introduced Business Ready (B-READY) assessment, the Union finance ministry has initiated consultations with Goa’s major industry bodies to identify bottlenecks impacting ease of operations.
Abhishek Tripathy, Joint Commissioner at the Revenue Department’s Tax Policy Research Unit, held discussions with representatives from the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Verna Industries Association, Goa State Industries Association, and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.
Tripathy briefed stakeholders on the B-READY framework, explaining that the new global index will evaluate countries based on regulatory burden, service efficiency, governance quality, and compliance systems. Industry representatives from manufacturing, tourism, aviation and start-up sectors shared their challenges and recommendations during the session.
“The Centre is committed to creating a more enabling environment for private sector growth,” Tripathy said, adding that the government is continuously working to streamline processes and reduce regulatory hurdles to boost investor confidence.
The Revenue Department is also undertaking wider outreach and perception-building exercises as part of preparations for the B-READY assessment. The new index replaces the World Bank’s earlier Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report, in which India had seen a dramatic rise—from 142nd in 2015 to 63rd in 2020.
Highlighting the significance of the new global benchmarking system, Tripathy said the B-READY index evaluates 190 countries and will play a key role in assessing the health and resilience of their industrial ecosystems. “The private sector drives economic growth and employment. Strengthening its resilience is essential,” he noted.
GCCI Director Pallavi Arondekar described the meeting as a “valuable opportunity for meaningful interaction between the government and industry on policies and reforms.” Members of GCCI and other associations expressed optimism that such consultations will pave the way for stronger collaboration between the Centre and Goa’s private sector, ultimately improving industry conditions in the state.