Goa aims to become startup hub, to promote workspaces on beaches

PANAJI: Aiming to become a startup hub and one of Asia's most preferred startup destinations in the next few years, the government of Goa is planning to tap into the coastal state's USPs: beaches and heritage locations. The government is encouraging entrepreneurs to set up their startups in Goa by exploring the creation of working spaces on the state's beaches and heritage locations. Plans are also afoot to digitalise Goa's villages.

About 214 startups have been certified by the state government since the Covid-19 pandemic which led to remote working.

According to Goa's department of information technology, electronics, and communication, the state is becoming a hotspot for emerging startups and professionals are choosing it as their preferred workplace, drawn by its natural beauty, robust infrastructure, and supportive official policies. Rohan Khaunte, minister of tourism, IT and printing & stationery said, Goa will be launching sea hubs equipped with digital workstations on the beach. Khaunte said the state has urged the central government to issue digital nomad visas so that foreign professionals could come and work from Goa. About 35% of the startups in the state are driven by women. The state government is focusing on training more women, Khaunte added.

He said that the state government is also encouraging more professionals and startup entrepreneurs to come to Goa where the best work-life balance could be struck. The government is shifting its focus from hard infrastructure to human capital to capitalize on human resources through the global opportunities aggregator (GOA) initiative. The groundbreaking platform will facilitate seamless remote collaboration, safeguard intellectual property, provide mentorship, and introduce a universal access card for accessing facilities like medical services, transportation, internet, co-living, and more.

The GOA initiative aims to showcase Goa's distinctive qualities and to empower and promote local talent. The government's move aligns with the evolving dynamics of work and reflects its dedication to fostering a conducive environment for innovation and growth.