Tag: Goa Business

Business

GCCI Hosts Joint Professional Programme on LLP Compliances, Startup Funding and Growth as Part of Startup Week 2026

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 


Panaji, 16 January 2026: The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the Goa Chapter of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), successfully organised a Joint Professional Programme at GCCI, Panaji, as part of Startup Week 2026. The programme revolved around the themes “Igniting Growth: Startup Funding, Investment & Compliance” and “LLP & its Compliances” and received an encouraging response from entrepreneurs, professionals, startups, MSMEs, and students.



Welcoming the participants, Ms. Pratima Dhond, President, GCCI, underlined the importance of awareness, compliance, governance, and continuous learning for sustainable business growth, particularly within the startup and MSME ecosystem. She highlighted GCCI’s role in supporting businesses through advocacy, capacity building, and professional collaboration.

CS Darshan Karekar, Chairman, ICSI Goa Chapter, stated that startups play a vital role in employment generation and national economic growth. He noted that the objective of the programme was to create awareness about regulatory compliances applicable to startups and business entities.

CA Rohan Bhandare, Hon. Secretary, GCCI, and Chairman, GCCI Taxation & Financial Services Committee, expressed satisfaction at the joint initiative being held on the occasion of National Startup Day. He emphasised that the programme reflected the shared vision of GCCI and ICSI in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and stressed the importance of continued collaboration on knowledge-driven initiatives for strengthening the business and professional community.

The Chief Guest, Ms. Trupti Sharma, ROC-cum-Official Liquidator for Goa, Daman & Diu, advised participants to actively engage with authorities and raise genuine grievances instead of facing compliance challenges in silence. She noted that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) remains receptive to valid concerns raised by stakeholders.

Elaborating on the relevance of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Ms. Sharma explained that the LLP concept was introduced in 2008 and that LLPs now account for nearly one-fourth of the total number of registered companies. She observed that registrations remain relatively low mainly due to lack of awareness. Highlighting LLPs as a preferred structure for family-run businesses, she pointed out that LLPs involve fewer compliances compared to companies, with the LLP agreement being the “soul” of the entity, and also offer easier and faster exit options.

Using an analogy, Ms. Sharma remarked that if MCA is the heart of compliances, professional bodies like ICSI and ICAI act as the arteries, while GCCI functions as the lungs, providing the oxygen necessary for the system to function efficiently.

Guest Speaker CS Vinayak Khanvalkar, Former President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, delivered an insightful session covering startup funding, investment avenues, and compliance-related aspects in line with the programme agenda.

The programme concluded with an interactive session, allowing participants to seek clarifications and directly engage with the experts. The joint initiative was widely appreciated for its practical insights and relevance to the evolving needs of startups and businesses in Goa.

The event was compered by Ms. Rakhi Malkarnekar, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Shantal Naik. The programme was coordinated by Mr. Sanjay Amonkar, Director General, GCCI, and Mr. Kiran Ballikar, Director, GCCI.

Social

GCCI Announces ‘Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa Awards 2025’

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in association with the Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust, has announced the recipients of the prestigious ‘Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa Awards 2025’. The awards continue a joint initiative aimed at recognising distinguished Goans whose dedication, leadership and excellence have significantly contributed to business, industry and society in Goa and beyond.

For 2025, the Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon Ms. Anju Timblo, Managing Director and CEO of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd., in recognition of her outstanding leadership and transformative contribution to Goa’s hospitality sector. A distinguished academic, Ms. Timblo topped India in the Higher Secondary Arts Examination, secured first rank in Economics at Lady Shri Ram College, and graduated in Law from Government Law College, Bombay, earning two Gold Medals. She began her professional journey as a law lecturer in Goa before moving into leadership roles in social and community initiatives, including serving as President of the All India Women’s Conference, Goa Branch.

Since 1993, Ms. Timblo has led Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd. as Managing Director and CEO, spearheading the iconic Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage and the Taj Cidade de Goa – Horizon, together forming Goa’s largest luxury hospitality complex with over 500 rooms. Under her leadership, Araqila, a luxury resort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, was recently commissioned, pioneering tourism development in the region. Deeply committed to education and cultural preservation, she is also the founder and president of the Fomento Education and Charitable Societies, which include the Goa College of Hospitality & Culinary Education and Dona Leonor Memorial High School.

The Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Entrepreneur Award for 2025 will be presented to Mr. Sachin Lawande, President and CEO of Visteon Corporation, Michigan. A native of Taleigao, Mr. Lawande is being honoured for his exemplary achievements as a global business leader and for bringing international recognition to Goa through his pioneering work in automotive technology. Since assuming leadership of Visteon in 2015, he has guided the Fortune 500 company to the forefront of cockpit electronics and automotive digitisation, driving innovation in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies while securing record levels of global business.

An alumnus of Auxilium Convent, Caranzalem, Mr. Lawande rose from a middle-class Goan upbringing to global corporate leadership. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Bombay University and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. With over two decades of experience in embedded systems and software, he holds four communications software patents and also serves on the Board of Cognex Corporation.

The Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust was established to honour the legacy of the late Kashinath Damodar Naik, a respected Margao-based businessman, historian and philanthropist. Through these awards, the Trust and GCCI aim to highlight achievers who have built successful enterprises, contributed to economic development and brought pride to the State of Goa.

The formal award ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 5.00 pm at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, and is open to the public.

Business

Malabar Gold & Diamonds to Enter Goa with State’s Largest Jewellery Showroom in Panjim

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the world’s leading jewellery retailers, is set to enter Goa with the launch of its largest jewellery showroom in the state. Located in Panjim, the upcoming store will mark the brand’s first retail presence in Goa and a significant milestone in its regional expansion journey. The showroom will be inaugurated on December 20, 2025, by Bollywood star Anil Kapoor.

Spread across more than 6,000 square feet over a ground-plus-one-floor layout, the showroom has been designed to offer a refined and spacious shopping environment. It brings together Malabar’s extensive design portfolio under one roof, allowing customers to explore a wide range of jewellery with ease and comfort. The brand’s entry into Goa reflects its strategic focus on strengthening its presence in high-potential, lifestyle-driven markets where customers value choice, quality and transparent retail practices.

Goa presents a unique customer landscape shaped by long-established local families, evolving lifestyle preferences and steady year-round visitor traffic. Malabar’s first showroom in the state has been thoughtfully planned to cater to this diverse audience, offering jewellery for weddings, milestone celebrations, everyday wear and contemporary tastes. The store will feature an expansive selection of gold, diamond, platinum and gemstone jewellery, along with signature Malabar collections curated for bridal, festive and modern occasions.

Speaking ahead of the opening, M. P. Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group, said the decision to enter Goa had been made after careful observation of the market. He noted that Goa has a strong cultural relationship with jewellery, a distinct sense of personal style and customers who value trust and longevity in their purchases. Entering the state with the largest jewellery showroom allows Malabar to present the full breadth of what the brand represents, spanning design, craftsmanship and transparency, in a single destination.

With a growing presence across India and international markets, Malabar Gold & Diamonds continues to expand its footprint in key geographies. The upcoming Goa showroom will extend all Malabar Promises, including transparent pricing, fair making charges, lifetime maintenance, detailed product disclosure and quality assurance through BIS-hallmarked gold and certified diamonds, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to responsible and customer-centric jewellery retailing.

Events in Goa

GCCI Hosts Knowledge Session on “Compliance 2.0: From GSTR-9 & 9C to AI-Driven GST Compliance”

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) organised a focused and insightful half-day knowledge session titled “Compliance 2.0: From Navigating GSTR-9 & 9C to Unlocking AI-Driven GST Compliance” on December 2, 2025, at the Surendrababu Timblo Convention Hall, Narayan Rajaram Bandekar Bhavan, Panaji. The programme drew enthusiastic participation from industry representatives, tax professionals, accountants, and business owners across the state.

The event was graced by Mr. Bipin Kumar Upadhyay, Commissioner, Central GST, as the Chief Guest, and featured keynote technical sessions by Bengaluru-based Chartered Accountant CA Venugopal Gella, a specialist in GST law, policy updates, and technology-led compliance frameworks. The session commenced with a warm Welcome Address by Mrs. Pratima Dhond, President of GCCI, who highlighted the growing importance of technology-driven compliance as GST systems become increasingly data-intensive and integrated. She reiterated GCCI’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between industry and tax administration through capacity-building initiatives.

CA Rohan Bhandare, Chairman of GCCI’s Taxation & Financial Services Committee, in his Opening Remarks, emphasized the importance of embracing technology and AI to streamline and automate compliance processes. He also addressed the recent changes in GST Annual Returns, underscoring the critical need for accurate disclosures to maintain compliance.

Mr. Bipin Kumar Upadhyay, in his address, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to fostering taxpayer-friendly administration. He encouraged businesses to leverage accurate data and automation tools to minimize errors and disputes and commended GCCI for its consistent efforts in helping taxpayers navigate policy changes.

CA Venugopal Gella conducted two technical sessions. The first session covered recent amendments and key considerations for filing GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C, understanding the upgraded Invoice Management System (IMS), and managing reconciliation challenges and backend validations. The second session focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies to enhance GST compliance efficiency, highlighting practical implications for daily business operations, including error reduction, anomaly detection, and real-time compliance management.

Participants actively engaged in discussions, appreciating the practical insights, clarity, and real-world examples shared during the sessions. The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by CA Vijay Pikale, who acknowledged the contributions of GCCI, the speakers, and attendees. The event was moderated by CA Yatish Pai Vernekar, Co-Chair of the Taxation & Financial Services Committee, and coordinated by Mr. Kiran Ballikar, Director of GCCI.

GCCI continues its commitment to supporting Goa’s business community by organising timely knowledge sessions, policy dialogues, and technology-driven compliance awareness initiatives, ensuring that local businesses are well-equipped to adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes.

Business

GCCI & GMA Host Harvard-Led Masterclass on ‘Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI’ in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) and the Goa Management Association (GMA), in partnership with the Goa AI Centre of Excellence, successfully organized a transformative one-day Masterclass on “Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI,” led by Harvard Summer School Faculty, Mr. Niraj Kumar. Held on 25 November 2025, the workshop brought together some of Goa’s most influential entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and innovators for an immersive learning experience designed to deliver the core concepts from Mr. Kumar’s renowned 12-session Harvard program in a single, power-packed day. The masterclass focused on the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled entrepreneurship, covering how artificial intelligence is reshaping business models, negotiation strategies, customer engagement, and organisational decision-making. GCCI President Mrs. Pratima Dhond opened the session by highlighting the importance of staying ahead of emerging technologies to build a resilient and future-ready business ecosystem for Goa. She emphasized that as AI transforms industries across the world, it is essential for Goa’s businesses to adopt and leverage AI strategically for innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. Supporting this vision, GMA Vice-Chairman Mr. Rajesh Mehrotra shared that in its Golden Jubilee year, the association is proud to bring global expertise to Goa’s corporate sector through such specialised programs.

During the session, Mr. Niraj Kumar spoke of the pressing need for businesses to integrate AI as a fundamental capability rather than an optional add-on. He pointed out that the future of entrepreneurship will be driven by deep personalization powered by large-scale data, and that companies must now optimise not just for traditional SEO but for AI search visibility as well. He reiterated that AI is no longer a peripheral tool but an integral part of the new world, dramatically transforming how people communicate, interact, and make decisions. The participants engaged in hands-on practical activities such as negotiation simulations, employee training modules, and customer service chatbot creation, which enabled them to understand the real-world applications of AI in business scenarios. A special segment by startup founder Ms. Maria Kapinos on “AI in Animation” offered an inspiring perspective on how AI enhances creativity by accelerating the ability of creators to bring their ideas to life. A memento was presented to Mr. Niraj Kumar by GCCI Director Mrs. Pallavi H. Arondekar, who expressed that such high-value insights from a global AI thought leader will spark new ideas and strengthen Goa’s position as a forward-looking hub of innovation. She also acknowledged the efforts of GAICoE founders Mr. Pramod Rane and Mr. Anand Desai for shaping and supporting this impactful initiative.

The masterclass proved to be an invaluable opportunity for Goa’s business community to learn directly from a Harvard expert and gain practical frameworks needed to thrive in the fast-evolving AI era. Notable attendees included Mr. Ralph de Sousa, Past President, GCCI; Ms. Pallavi Salgaocar, GCCI Managing Committee Member; Dr. Niyan Marchon, Program Director, Directorate of Higher Education, Goa; Mr. Carlos De Sousa, MD, De Souza Group; Mr. Amit Bandekar, Director, NRB Group; Mr. Yatish Dempo, Director, Dempo Group; Mr. Sunil Pai Kane, Director, Power Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Gourov Pokle, Chair, GCCI Environment & Waste Management Committee; Mr. Blaise Costabir, MD, GMI Zarak Moulders Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Manish Gosalia, Director, Goa Knowledge Foundation; Mr. Ashutosh Kharangate, MD, MARC; and Mrs. Supriya Rane, Director, La Cabana Beach Resort & Spa, among several others. The event marked a significant step in empowering Goa’s industry leaders with the knowledge and tools required to navigate the future of business confidently in the age of artificial intelligence.