Panaji ::; 16/02/2020 :::: The Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that it is important for Portugal and Goa to maintain ties with each other so that each can explore the opportunities to grow. The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural of the Conference on Urban Design, organised by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited at Adil Shah Palace, Old Secretariat, Panaji, on Saturday. Present on the occasion was President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Dr Sawant while speaking on the occasion said that Portugal and Goa have so many similarities. He said that there is a lot of Goan diaspora in Portugal. Dr Sawant also said that Goa and Portugal can have city to city contact which can be a learning experience.
Dr Sawant said that there is a lot where we can learn from each other. He said that Portugal has heritage cities which though modernised have still retained their character. They have understood urban design and they think of design and sustainable development at the same time he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke on the Smart City vision of Goa for Panaji.
President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that in this globalised world it is not hard to conclude that cities are geographically different but still fight for similar objectives like efficient and sustainable urban infrastructure and thereby improving the lives of their inhabitants. This is the common goal of many cities around the world he said.
He went on to add that Goa is a unique place where there is dialogue between West and East, between Portugal and India. He said that the past has to remain in the past; however, the past can become a future if one takes advantage of that past, the President said while talking of urban realities.
He added that there is no first class or second class cultures or civilisations, all are first class cultures and civilisations and it is the dialogue between these cultures and civilisations that gives basis on which one can join forces to do good.
He said that he has been visiting most of the world but his visit to Goa is special.
The conference included a presentation on ‘Re-signifying Territories By Design-The Case of Porto’ by the Portuguese designer Professor Eduardo Aires.
Present at the inaugural were Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Chandrakant Kavlekar, Minister for Power, Shri Nilesh Cabral, PWD Minister, Shri Deepak Pauskar, MLA, Mapusa, Shri Joshua D’Souza, Chief Secretary, Shri Parimal Rai, IAS, among others.
