This is a good initiative but if one speaks from the heartand not the mind, there are pitfalls doing business in Goa. The climate hasbeen vitiated and while we may say “welcome to Goa”, the ground realities arethat good clean credible businesses are not allowed to function. That has to beaddressed.
“ Auduth Timblo, President Sociedade de Fomento
Portugal gives Indian businesses an opportunity to enterwestern Europe. You get world class infrastructure at lower prices. Goa canleverage itself as a very important conduit for Indian businesses.
“ BB Tyagi India’s Ambassador to Portugal
It’s a very good starting point with so many people cominghere. Food process, health and tourism are good sectors to invest it. A lot ofbusinessmen will find it beneficial to work here.
“ Professor Eugenio Viassa Monteiro, AESE school of Business, Lisbon
This meeting has been fruitful, as it shows that there isinterest from both sides to take things forward. This is the most importantthing. It is the first step, and shows the links between both places that havealways been strong.
“ Anil Counto, Chairman of theExecutive Committee
The response of the people speaks for itself. We have seenthis from the influx of people to and fro, and from the way things have beencarried out during the organisation of the Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa,and the interaction between both sides. We must build on this keen interest.
“ Jose Elmano Coelho Pereira, Deputy Chairman,of the ExecutiveCommittee
Finding out that Goa is in Portugal’s intentions is a goodresult from this trip. It has been shown by our counterparts that they want toprogress and take that next step forward to build on ties. I have urged TAP orany other airline, such as Emirates to commence direct flights between Goa andPortugal. This is needed to increase tourism between the two countries.Prominent Goan Tour operators and their Portuguese counterparts present wereextremely excited with the opportunities developing in terms of new businessrelations. I feel that he mood of both the sides was optimistic.
“ Dr Francisco Bragança, President of Travel and Tourism Association ofGoa
This initiative will yield excellent results in terms of thegrowth of tourism between Goa and Portugal. Goa could be a window for tourismfor Portuguese tourists visiting India, while Lisbon could be a window formillions of tourists visiting Portugal, using it to also access the rest ofEurope.
“ Ralph De Souza, The Chamber of Commerce of Goa/De Souza Group ofHotels
A huge challenge that we faced was preparing a meal of theseproportions in the end. We catered to a total of over 600 people. We wanted tomake it as authentic an experience as possible, and the language barrier wasenormous, but we prevailed as a team. We carried a host of ingredients as wellas equipment to replicate our method of preparation as it was essential to paya 100% attention to detail. I think it paid off in the end.
“ John Rosario Pereira, celebrity chef from Cidade de Goa
