Panaji: Continuing to focus on cluster-based development, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has moved to establish a dedicated handicraft cluster at the Verna industrial estate. GIDC has identified 18 vacant land parcels that can be given on lease to artisans or small manufacturers who specialise in traditional crafts.The plots, which will be allotted on a leasehold basis, range in size from 638sqm to 1,462sqm, offering prospective applicants a range of options depending on the scale of their operations. GIDC has described the plots as strategically located with potential for growth.GIDC’s pivot towards a heritage cluster comes after it successfully allotted three plots for an IT cluster called Hello World at Verna industrial estate. GIDC also plans to set up a purple economic zone, specifically for entrepreneurs with disabilities. The economic zone will be spread over five acres of land in Verna as a plug-and-play industrial cluster with accessible infrastructure, shared facilities, and specialised business support services.The choice of Verna industrial estate is natural as it remains the state’s largest and most developed industrial zone, housing a wide range of manufacturing and services businesses.The creation of a dedicated handicraft cluster within the estate would mark a shift towards integrating Goa’s traditional craft economy into its formal industrial infrastructure. A GIDC officer said that providing artisans and small producers with access to organised workspace, utilities and logistics will be beneficial as these facilities are typically unavailable in informal or home-based production settings.Goa has a rich tradition of handicrafts, including pottery, cane and bamboo work, brass and bell metal craft, and textile weaving.
