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Panaji: CM Pramod Sawant on Monday said that state govt will receive Rs 5,570 crore as a tax devolution share under the Union Budget, which will help to strengthen development in the state that is in the pipeline.“The Budget ensures Goa gets Rs 5,570.8 crore as a devolved tax share — this will directly strengthen Goa’s development pipeline,” he said. “Goa is India’s tourism brand. With guide upskilling and the digital destination grid, we can create better jobs for Goan youths and better experiences for tourists.”
Sawant said that Goa would benefit from the blue economy, fisheries, coastal livelihoods, and logistics.He said that integrated development of 500 reservoirs, and strengthening the fisheries value chain in coastal areas, with market linkages involving start-ups and women-led groups and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), were included in the Budget.The Union Budget was presented by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman on Sunday.The chief minister said that the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme would shift freight from road and rail to waterways and coastal shipping, and raise the share from 6% to 12% by 2047 — important for coastal states and port-linked economies.“For a coastal state like Goa, fisheries value-chain strengthening and coastal cargo promotion directly supports livelihoods, logistics efficiency, and coastal enterprise.”Sawant said that incentives to indigenise manufacturing of seaplanes and a Seaplane VGF (viability gap funding) scheme would support operations — aimed at last-mile and remote connectivity and tourism.“Goa can leverage seaplane connectivity to enhance high-value tourism circuits and improve access to select coastal destinations.”Referring to Goa’s coastal crops, including coconut and cashew, Sawant said that high-value agriculture support specifically mentioned coconut, cocoa, and cashew in coastal areas.“This Budget speaks directly to Goa’s strengths — coconut and cashew. The dedicated programmes can strengthen farm incomes and value addition in our coastal belt,” he said.Sawant said that Goa’s economy runs on MSMEs — tourism, services, processing, and local manufacturing. The Budget improves credit flow and growth capital for them, he said.
