‘Goa to Global – 100 SME Export Champions Initiative’ receives enthusiastic industry response
In a significant step towards strengthening Goa’s export ecosystem, the Export Facilitation Centre (EFC) was formally launched at Terminal Banquets, Caculo Mall, Panaji, through a collaborative initiative of Global Chamber® Goa, Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) Goa, and World Trade Center Goa.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the ‘Goa to Global – 100 SME Export Champions Initiative,’ a flagship programme designed to identify, mentor and prepare Goan MSMEs, startups, manufacturers and entrepreneurs for international markets.
The initiative received an overwhelming response from entrepreneurs, exporters, industry leaders, government officials, trade bodies and ecosystem partners, who welcomed it as a timely platform to create globally competitive enterprises.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Pallavi Salgaocar, State President, Laghu Udyog Bharati Goa, who highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among industry, institutions and government to build an export-oriented MSME ecosystem in Goa.
Cyril D’Souza, Regional Director, World Trade Center Goa, shared WTC Goa’s vision of connecting Goan businesses with global markets through international networks, trade facilitation and strategic partnerships.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Aartii Neemkar, Executive Director, Global Chamber® Goa and Founder & CEO of India Economic Development Association (IEDA), unveiled the vision of the Export Facilitation Centre and presented a structured roadmap for the Goa to Global – 100 SME Export Champions Initiative, focusing on export readiness, capability building, market access and international business opportunities.
Chief Guest M. K. Meena, Joint Director, MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Goa, Government of India, addressed the gathering on the Government of India’s national vision for enhancing MSME competitiveness and innovation. He emphasised the importance of enabling MSMEs to become globally competitive through government initiatives, innovation, quality, technology adoption and exports.
Prakash Chandra, National Organising Secretary, Laghu Udyog Bharati, shared the national perspective on strengthening India’s MSME sector and encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace exports as a pathway to sustainable business growth.
Sachin Sabnis, Goa Prabhari, Laghu Udyog Bharati, reinforced the importance of building a strong support ecosystem for local industries and urged businesses to actively engage with the newly launched Export Facilitation Centre.
Adding sector-specific insights, Naman Marjadi, Assistant Director, Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL), spoke on unlocking Goa’s plastic export potential and highlighted opportunities available for manufacturers through export-focused strategies.
Rohit Salveru, Founder of Cargo First and Creator of Blinkus.ai, demonstrated how Artificial Intelligence is transforming global trade by helping businesses identify international markets, discover buyers and simplify export processes.
The programme was seamlessly compered by Vibhor Keny, while the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Mudit Agarwal, General Secretary, Laghu Udyog Bharati Goa. The event concluded with an interactive networking session, enabling participants to explore collaborations and business opportunities.
A Collaborative Platform for Goa’s Export Growth
The Export Facilitation Centre has been established as a dedicated platform to support MSMEs, startups, manufacturers and aspiring exporters through export readiness assessments, mentoring, capacity building, policy awareness, market intelligence and international business networking.
Through its flagship Goa to Global – 100 SME Export Champions Initiative, the Centre aims to identify and nurture high-potential enterprises and work closely with government departments, Export Promotion Councils, financial institutions and industry associations to position Goa as a vibrant export hub and contribute to India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
