the goan I network
PANAJI
The biggest investment and trade event to ever happen in the State - Vibrant Goa-Global Expo and Summit - was inaugurated with much fanfare in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Minister of Industries, Trade and Commerce Vishwajit Rane and Minister of Information Technology Jennifer Monserrate.
The three-day summit, which is aimed at boosting trade and investment, also witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between business associations of Goa and other countries.
Vibrant Goa Foundation and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) signed MoUs with Indian American Business Council, Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Chamber of Commerce, Indian Business and Professional Council of Qatar, China Business Forum, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and many others.
Speaking to the delegates, Sawant said, “The prime focus of Vibrant Goa is inclusive development in areas such as innovation, technology, sustainable industries, youth and skill development. The main objective of this event is to boost business in Goa by providing the platform to investors to connect with Goan businesses.”
Dr Jagat Shah, chief mentor, Vibrant Goa Foundation, said, “The representatives of 52 countries and 550 companies have come to Vibrant Goa Summit. I would urge all of you to visit stalls and to interact with Goan businessmen. 275 Goan companies are displaying their products and services at various stalls.”
Dr Shah further said that next year Vibrant Goa 2020 will be organised in Dubai, which clearly shows that the summit is going global. Even this edition saw participation of delegates from countries in Middle-East, South-East Asia, the US and Canada.
Nitin Kunkolienker, chairman, Vibrant Goa Foundation, said, “Vibrant Goa event is the best example of PPP (public-private-partnership) model. This partnership will take Goa on the highway of development and prosperity. We have opportunities in several sectors like tourism, IT, healthcare and electronics to name a few.”
In his address, Kunkolienker highlighted how one of his friends has acquired a patent for smaller windmills and he is going to shift his plant from China to India as an example of huge investment potential of India.
Rane said, “Goa is setting a new model and we are seeing how to move forward. We are working at building an ecosystem for the industries so that we can energise this sector.”
