Panaji, July 9:
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant chaired the 404th Board Meeting of EDC Limited on Tuesday at EDC House, Panaji, where several pivotal decisions were taken to strengthen Goa’s entrepreneurial landscape and enhance financial inclusion for local businesses.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the approval of EDC Limited’s financials for the fiscal year 2024–25. The corporation reported a revenue of ₹111.47 crore, profit of ₹81.27 crore, with a gross NPA of less than 0.25%, and a strong net worth of ₹840 crore, reflecting sound financial health and effective management.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister sanctioned new loan proposals for Goan enterprises, taking the total loan sanctions for the current year to approximately ₹40 crore, a move aimed at nurturing small and medium businesses across the state.
In a significant policy step, Dr. Sawant granted in-principle approval to the Mukhyamantri Rozgar Yojana, a state-backed employment and entrepreneurship scheme intended to generate job opportunities for Goan youth and promote self-employment.
Further, the Chief Minister approved a collaborative initiative with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) to train faculty members from government colleges and higher secondary schools in entrepreneurial education. The goal is to foster a mindset of innovation and business creation among students across Goa.
Acknowledging the positive impact of EDII’s Goa Chapter, Dr. Sawant commended its efforts in building a culture of entrepreneurship in the state.
To strengthen support mechanisms for startups and local enterprises, the Chief Minister also directed EDC Limited to:
Design new loan schemes tailored specifically for Goan businesses
Simplify and improve accessibility of existing financial schemes to benefit a wider base of entrepreneurs
Reaffirming the government’s vision, Dr. Sawant stated, “The Government of Goa is committed to building a robust, inclusive, and self-reliant economy. Our focus is on empowering Goans to become job creators and not just job seekers.”
These measures reflect the state’s ongoing commitment to economic development, employment generation, and inclusive growth for Goa’s business community.
