Mr. Hardik Maniar is a well-known Tax Consultant, Founder of H.C Maniar & Co. and Associate with Wisdom Business & Legal Consultancy. He is an expert in matters related with Direct (Income Tax) & Indirect Taxes (Customs & GST). He has his office in Gandhidham and Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Excerpts of a freewheeling interview…
Q1. Please tell us about your self?
I am founder of H. C. Maniar & Co., Chartered Accountants, and associated with Wisdom Business & Legal Consultancy, engaged in consultancy in the field of Direct and Indirect Taxation, Tax Planning and appearance mainly before appellate authorities amongst others. We specialize in matters pertaining to search and surveys. Some of our esteemed clients are Kandla Port Trust, Kandla Special Economic Zone Authority (KASEZA) etc.
Q2. What motivated you to select Gandhidham for your career, you could have easily settled in Mumbai or Ahmedabad?
Kutch is the home of Major two ports, the Deendayal Port Trust (earlier known as Kandla Port Trust) and Mundra Port, besides several wind farms and mega power plants. A Kutch is also having two SEZ units, KASEZ (Kandla Special Economic Zone and Mundra SEZ. The city Gandhdiham boasts of cosmopolitan culture due to presence of sizeable number of shipping agents and export-import agencies.
Q3. Broadly explain why are you so optimistic about Kutch?
The future of Kutch looks very bright. Broadly speaking, today India has become 5 th largest economy in the world. India has just launched a supply chain initiative with Australia & Japan to replace China in global manufacturing supply chain. US –India trade deal is about to be signed. All these global factors are likely to bring in huge investments in India & Kutch, being the gateway to western world, is likely to get heavy investments.
Q4. Can you provide glimpse of on going projects Kutch ?
On the back of minerals, land availability and port proximity, the Kutch region is expected to attract huge investments in coming time in the field of cement, power and minerals, among others. While companies like Reliance ADA, Binani and DLF are setting up cement plants in the region, the likes of IL&FS and OPG Power, among others are constructing coal and gas based power plants.
Kutch has been marked special investment region by the government & a multi modal logistics park is also under development.
If we talk about tourism, “Rann Utsav” & “Kutch nahi dekha to kuchh nahi dekha” have already put Kutch as a major tourist destination. Further, Union Budget of 2020 has allotted a special grant for development of Museum at Dholavira, this harappan site will soon be the next big tourist destination.
Q5. Can you please talk in detail about Mundra port’s future?
With more operational freedom, pricing flexibility and quick expansions, private ports are outperforming their public sector counterparts. Today, the Mundra port has topped all the major ports of India in terms of cargo handled successively for a decade. Mundra also houses GIDC, SEZs, CONCORE terminal. Further, an airport is also under development. All these provides necessary ecosystem which is required for growth & development of Industries. So it can be said that, Mundra contains all ingredients for exponential growth in coming times.