Goa has potential to become Global Board of Trade: expert

Panaji, Feb 23 (UNI) Goa has all the potential to become a ''Global Board of Trade'' (GBT) on par with Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mauritius, an expert said.

''Goa has all the requisite ingredients like international culture, tourism as a brand image, hospitality and services enterprises, besides people conversant in English, which add to the knowledge economy,'' Financial Technologies Group founder and chief executive Jignesh Shah said.

Interacting with media persons at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) after delivering keynote address in a seminar on ''Knowledge: Driver of Goan Economy'' here today, Mr Shah, who is also MD and CEO of the MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India), described how his company has emerged as number one exchange with 71 per cent marketshare in a short span of three years using knowledge initiatives.

''Our company leveraged knowledge internet protocol along with technology and domain experience to create India's number one commodity exchange with 71 per cent market share. We are among the youngest top 10 exchanges in the world, ranked first for silver, second for gold and third for natural gas and crude trade,'' he said.

He expressed regret over ''lack of initiative'' by the state government for earmarking 250 acres of land six months ago for starting the GBT venture in Goa and said it could have earned the government ''a mind-boggling revenue''.

''Goa has just lost the opportunity, but the proposal could still be evaluated and if there is a favourable response from the government, the possibility can be evaluated,'' Mr Shah said.

Incidentally, Mr Shah was given 500 acres of land free-of-cost recently by the Mauritius government to set up a GBT, while he in collaboration with the Dubai government had started such a venture there sometime ago.

Mr Shah was recently selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Devos as ''Young Global Leader'' for 2007 and honoured with US-India Businessman Award in Washington for his knowledge-based initiatives.

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