From daijiworld's special correspondent
 
 
Panaj, Jan 14: The President of the Republic of Portugal, Prof Anibal Cavaco Silva on Saturday said that Goa can act as the gateway of India to Portugal to establish and promote activities linked to trade and industry.

"I also believe that the singular affinities that unite Goa and Portugal can turn Goa into a powerful agent in mobilising closer ties between both our countries and in establishing a new platform of relationship, co-operation
and partnership that will be of benefit to all," the visiting president said.

Prof Silva, currently on a Goa visit, delivering the presidential address during a city function based on the theme 'India-Portugal: Bridge to the future' organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, "I believe Goa can play a fundamental role in this connection."

Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and the Portuguese Minister for Economy and Innovation, Dr Manuel Pinho were also present on the occasion.

"We have the advantage of excellent political relations between our countries, of an adequate network of agreements and protocols in several areas and of the will of the political, economic and cultural agents," he said, adding "Therefore, business ties and economic relations between Portugal and India which have somehow remained considerably below what might be expected, should be reinforced."

GCCI president Nitin Kuncolienkar and the vice president of AIP, an association of Portuguese industries, Mr Joao Dotti signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the occasion, dealing with various aspects of trade between
both the parties.

Praising the dynamism and strategic vision that has marked the activity of the GCCI, Prof Silva said that the spirit of initiative and the part played by the chamber in promoting Goa as a home for new industries and as a source
of skills, has been recognised.

Stating that the twenty-first century Portugal is an enterprising country, able to multiply centres of scientific and business creativity, to make its mark as a country of opportunities, the President of the Republic of Portugal informed that few months ago, some two dozen leaders of the world's biggest companies, from twelve countries met in Portugal and debated the challenges of globalization.

"A council, created under my sponsorship, examined ways to promote globalisation that opens room for every country to participate, that is, a pluralistic globalization," he pointed out.

Prof Silva further said, "Indeed, globalization should be pluralistic, making working together easier, in a reasoning of interdependence and in a play of complementarity and fair competition, so that the winner in this process is mankind as a whole."

Reacting to his Goa visit, the President of the Republic of Portugal said, "The emotion that I feel is the emotion that each one of us experiences when we recognize traits of our history and of our civilisation."

"It is a fact that history has left us a legacy of affinities, and Goa's cultural characteristics clearly bear witness to this," he said, "So does the presence in Portugal of so many examples of the extraordinary richness of Indian civilisation, as well as of a large community of Indian origin who are fully integrated into Portuguese society and have brought about a very significant contribution to the country and its economy."

"None of us are held hostage by our history. History is made every day. We must therefore make of our historic legacy, a common asset, instrumental to the relationship with a future that we wish to build up between India and Portugal of the twenty-first century," he concluded.

Rane, identifying areas of joint collaboration said that Portugal can collaborate with the state of Goa in areas like garbage disposal system and wine producing technology.

"Portugal has successfully tackled the garbage disposal problem by resorting to recycling even non bio-degradable waste and then using it commercially," Rane said. He also suggested that Goa could adopt Portuguese technology in wine production and developing viniculture.

Speaking further, the Chief Minister said that a large number of Europeans, particularly British nationals have been visiting Goa lately through charter planes and a similar arrangement on Goa-Portugal axis could be worked out.

Rane also maintained that there is tremendous scope for joint collaboration for coaching in Portuguese language to young Indian IT engineers, who are taking up jobs in some of the Portuguese speaking countries like Brazil. "Such classes could be organised in Goa itself," he
added.

The Portuguese Minister for Economy and Innovation said that the next stage of globalisation is developing better trade relationship. "Globalization sets right incentives for companies to act in various sectors," he observed.

If Goa continues to grow at 10 per cent, in next 7 years, it would double its per capita income, Dr Pinho observed.

Kuncolienkar, in his welcome address stressed on improving Portuguese exports to Goa, which presently stands at very low level. The GCCI president, in a gesture reflecting the Indo-Portuguese trade, presented the President of Portugal with a designer bottle, 'Goan Treasure' feni. The Goan drink is prepared from cashew apple; the Portuguese being responsible for planting the first cashew sapling in the state.

Indian ambassador to Portugal Nilima Mitra, the Portuguese ambassador to India, Joaquim Ferreira Marques, and the vice-presidents of GCCI Caesar Menezes and Manguirish Pai Raikar were also present.