By IANS
New Delhi : The Planning Commission Tuesday approved Rs.17.37 billion as plan outlay for Goa for 2008-09 during a meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
After the meeting, attended by Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Kamat said the funds would help his state in capacity building in the social sector with “increased participation from the private sector”.
“It will be the thrust area in 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12),” he told reporters, adding that he would try to achieve the growth rate of 12.1 percent during the 11th Plan.
“The government will focus on food processing and agro-based industries, IT and tourism to achieve higher growth rate,” Kamat said.
Ahluwalia said Goa had impressive achievements both in the social sector and economy.
“Goa is ready to leap forward to the next stage of development and aim at achieving higher standards of development and social justice during the 11th Plan,” he said.
“The efforts to exploit the opportunities arising from tourism and mining industries should continue, while agro-tourism, agro processing and organic farming needs more focused attention,” Ahluwalia said.