TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The expertise acquired by the State in the development of its infrastructure, education could be beneficial to East Timor as it begins its journey towards development and facilitating the aspirations of its citizens. This offer was made by Manoj Kamat, Special Advisor to the Lusophone Society of Goa during his presentation to the Economic and Development Affairs Committee of the national parliament of East Timor.
The delegation, which comprises parliamentarians is in the city to visit various facilities and meet with government officials in addition to experts in tourism, agriculture and other fields.
Kamat felt that it was important for the country to promote itself around the world as a destination that was good for business. He said, “The government should not be involved in business it should be a facilitator and the East Timor government should involve the private sector to be part of this effort.” This, he explained further by saying that it was important to have an industrial policy which Goa had recently unveiled in the recent past. The policy, he explained envisaged the creation of world class infrastructure, educational institutions like the ITES, pharma, agro based industries and a focused approach to promoting tourism. When he was informed that the public sector was dominant with the private sector virtually not present, Kamat felt that perhaps it was time to get in foreign players. In addition, he felt that the inflation, which was rampant in the country would have to be controlled.
The Lusophone Society of Goa, he said would assist the country by bringing together parties with the requisite expertise who could be interested at looking at new markets. The trained manpower available at the society’s service could be utilised to help build deeper relations between Goa and East Timor which had a connection through Portugal which ruled both these parts of the world in the past.
