In a significant step to strengthen Goa’s MSME export ecosystem, World Trade Centre Goa, Laghu Udyog Bharati Goa and Global Chamber Goa have jointly launched the Export Facilitation Centre at WTC Panjim. The collaborative initiative brings together global trade infrastructure, MSME outreach and international business networks to support enterprises aiming to expand into global markets.
The centre will provide MSMEs with guidance and facilitation on export procedures, documentation, compliance requirements and market access. It will also connect enterprises with agencies such as the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), export promotion bodies, logistics providers and financial institutions on a best-effort facilitation basis. By offering institutional connectivity and structured support, the initiative seeks to improve export readiness among local enterprises.
The Export Facilitation Centre will operate from the World Trade Centre Goa at Sesa Ghor, Wing 1, Office No. 3H, 3rd Floor, above Crosscrafts Event Management, Dr. Alvaro Costa Road, 20, EDC Complex, Patto, Panaji, Goa – 403001. It will function on Tuesdays and Fridays between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM and will be regularly operational from March 1 at this location, ensuring accessible and consistent support for MSMEs.
Present on the occasion were Cyril De Souza, Regional Director – Trade Promotion, World Trade Centre Goa; Pallavi Salgaocar, President, Laghu Udyog Bharati Goa; office bearers Mudit Agarwaal, Jayesh Raikar and Aarti Neemkar, Executive Director, Global Chamber Goa, among other members. The coordinators from LUB Goa for the Export Facilitation Centre will be Uttam Bhupal and Rajeshwar Naidu.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Goa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and enabling local enterprises to compete confidently in global markets.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk
The GCCI Agriculture Committee undertook an important outreach initiative on 21 November 2025 with a high-level delegation to the Cargo Facility at Manohar International Airport, Mopa. This visit aimed to explore opportunities for facilitating large-scale mango exports from Goa and the neighboring regions of Karnataka, particularly Dharwad. The delegation included Chairman Mahesh Patil, Committee Members Pandurang Patil and Dr. Suresh Kunkalikar, and GCCI Deputy Director Ms. Ambika Dhakhenkar. GCCI has been at the forefront of promoting trade and export opportunities in Goa for decades and played a significant role since the 1990s in advocating for the establishment of a second airport with robust cargo capabilities.
A visit by representatives of Mavu Belegarar Balaga, Dharwad, brought valuable insights into the region’s potential. Led by Executive Member Dr. Rajendra Poddar and President Shri Subhas Akalwadi, the group shared their vision of tapping international markets such as Singapore, the Middle East, and Europe. They highlighted that nearly 60,000 acres are under mango cultivation in their region, with half located in the Dharwad belt. Their first export shipment last year had to travel 8.5 hours to Chintamani, while Mopa Airport offers a significantly shorter four-hour route. The growers emphasised the advantages of reduced transit time, lower damage risks, and improved logistics efficiency. They also presented the region’s achievements including the establishment of an APEDA-approved packhouse created through central government support, which has strengthened storage and handling of perishable produce.
During the visit, Mr. Purushottam Thakur, Cargo Logistics Head at GMR Mopa, delivered an extensive presentation on current and upcoming facilities designed to support export operations, especially for perishable commodities. The delegation was taken through the cargo terminal and briefed on developments such as the fully integrated, multi-commodity APEDA-approved packhouse spanning 5,600 sq. metres with a 100-tonne daily capacity, set to be operational by April 2026. Supported by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Goa, and APEDA, this packhouse will enhance export operations for farmers in Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. It will also offer storage options for unsold produce, enabling redirection to domestic markets through 29 Indian destinations connected to GOX, thereby reducing risks associated with international shipment rejections.
Mr. Thakur further outlined upcoming initiatives including Tier II warehousing, an in-house Customs office, and a Plant Quarantine facility. He also highlighted the potential for multi-modal logistics through Mormugao Port and ICD Balli once the packhouse becomes functional. The Dharwad Mango Growers Group invited the GMR team to present these opportunities to growers in their region, to which Mr. Thakur assured full cooperation, noting possibilities for daily mango export truckloads and expansion into other high-value agricultural products such as Bijapur lemons, pomegranates, and guavas.
The visit reinforced the belief that every progressive FPO or grower group has the potential to become an exporter—aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to double farmer incomes. GCCI expressed deep appreciation to GMR’s cargo team, particularly Mr. Purushottam Thakur, and acknowledged the Dharwad Mango Growers Group for their initiative in considering Goa as a gateway to global markets. As Goa’s economy looks beyond tourism and mining, the GCCI Agriculture Committee is advocating the state’s strategic potential to evolve into the Logistics Hub of Western India for agri-exports, supported by strong road connectivity, the expanding capabilities of Mormugao Port, and world-class infrastructure at Mopa Airport. GCCI remains committed to fostering collaborations that can strengthen Goa’s role in global agricultural trade and provide lasting economic benefits to farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.
The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in association with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO – Western Region) and supported by ICICI Bank, successfully conducted a three-day Certificate Course titled “Setting Up and Managing an Adaptive International Business” from 24th to 26th September 2025 at the GCCI Conference Hall in Panaji.
The course was formally inaugurated in the presence of Mrs. Pratima Dhond, President of GCCI, and Mr. Chandrakant Gawas, Chairman of the GCCI Logistics Committee. Both dignitaries underscored the critical importance of upskilling and knowledge sharing for entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals aiming to enter or expand in the international trade arena.
The event drew overwhelming participation, with over 50 attendees including new-age entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, international trade professionals, and aspiring exporters. The course was designed as a high-impact training module combining essential theoretical concepts with real-world business applications and industry exposure.
Day 1 laid the foundation by covering the essentials of international trade—participants were introduced to export documentation, export costing, selecting overseas markets, and understanding the prevailing business environment. Experts also elaborated on the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 and how it impacts small and medium exporters.
The second day began with sessions on establishing overseas business relationships, identifying genuine buyers, effective communication, and navigating new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs). It also covered crucial topics like delivery and payment terms and the vital role logistics plays in ensuring successful exports. The afternoon featured a Stakeholders’ Interaction Session where major banks spoke on financial tools available for exporters, the ECGC outlined risk mitigation strategies, NSIC showcased MSME-specific schemes, and FIEO shared its ongoing initiatives in support of India’s exporting community.
On the final day, participants were taken on an immersive field visit to the GMR Goa Air Cargo Terminal at MOPA. The visit provided invaluable first-hand insight into international cargo handling, compliance protocols, and the logistical operations that support export trade, bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and ground-level execution.
At the closing valedictory session, all participants were awarded Certificates of Completion, acknowledging their commitment and active engagement over the three days. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing appreciation for the course’s practical relevance and the opportunity to network with experts and fellow entrepreneurs.
The programme reflects the continuing efforts by GCCI and FIEO to build a robust export ecosystem in Goa. Both organisations reaffirmed their intent to collaborate on future programmes that focus on handholding, mentoring, and supporting local businesses as they venture into international markets. The initiative is a strong step towards increasing export contributions from Goa and empowering the next generation of Indian exporters.
A senior delegation from Ocean Network Express (ONE), Mumbai, visited Delta Ports Mormugao Terminal Private Limited on June 16 to assess the terminal’s container-handling infrastructure—a move seen as a major step towards strengthening regional trade and economic growth in Goa. ONE, a leading global carrier operating over 260 vessels with a total capacity exceeding 2 million TEU, was represented by its Managing Director Masahiro Sakikubo. Sakikubo, along with the visiting delegates, undertook a detailed tour of the port terminal before participating in a high-level meeting at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA). The meeting was attended by MPA Chairperson Dr. VinodKumar, senior MPA authorities, Delta Ports’ top management including Managing Director Ahmed Mohiuddin, Director Shamil Ahmed, Vice President Raghoba Kotkar, GM Operations Pravir Patnaik, and Sr. Manager Business Development Vishnu Prasad. Agents for ONE LINE Goa, Biju Mohan and Nilesh, were also present.
The ONE team showed strong interest in the ongoing developments at Delta Ports, especially regarding the potential resumption of container services. The visit was the result of continuous stakeholder engagement and is seen as a positive indication for the future of Goa Port. ONE has expressed a firm interest in calling at Goa Port, subject to feeder operator support. Unifeeder is actively assessing the feasibility of adding Goa to its network and is in talks with CMA CGM, ONE, Maersk, MSC, and HMM to ensure container volume commitments post-monsoon. The MPA chairperson assured full support and incentives to facilitate these developments. Meanwhile, Delta Ports is also in discussions with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to include Goa in the SMILE (Sci-Middle-East-India-Liner-Express) Service. This initiative aims to reduce road transport dependency and support coastal cargo movement for commodities such as salt, industrial salt, tiles, bentonite, and manufactured goods—offering a major boost to local industries. With these initiatives, Goa’s exporters and importers are poised to gain direct global connectivity from their home port, enabling MSMEs to expand internationally with reduced logistics costs.
