Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Signalling a major turning point for Goa’s long-stalled mining sector, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant handed appointment letters to newly hired employees of the Fomento Group, declaring the industry’s long-awaited comeback after more than a decade of inactivity.
At the ceremony held at the International Centre in Dona Paula — attended by Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, Fomento Group Chairman Auduth Timblo, former MP Vinay Tendulkar and others — Sawant positioned the event as more than a routine recruitment drive.
He framed it as evidence that Goa’s mining economy is finally “back on track” with the reopening of the Kalay Iron Ore Mine and the Cudegal Processing Plant after nearly 12 years.
Calling the revival a “confidence booster” for the State’s economy, Sawant said the return of mining will not only revive thousands of livelihoods but also restore financial stability in mining-dependent regions. He stressed that the government has deliberately moved away from past practices by enforcing transparency, accountability and legality through systems like e-auctions and dump auctions.
Sawant lauded the Fomento Group for prioritising Goans in their hiring, describing it as a crucial step toward ensuring that the economic benefits of mining flow directly to local families. He encouraged the new employees to see themselves as part of a sector that is key to Goa’s long-term economic sustainability.
With operations resuming and new jobs rolling out, the Chief Minister said the mining industry is entering a new phase — one driven by regulatory clarity, corporate responsibility and renewed optimism.
