On a day packed with official, social and cultural engagements, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa met top officials, scientists in the State and also attended a gala reception held in his honour, where he emotionally recalled his father’s love for Goa.
Costa, 55, who is on the final leg of his seven-day official visit to India, is the first person of Goan origin to head a Government in a foreign country.
Earlier on Wednesday, Costa met Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar and Goa Governor, where he discussed ways and means to increase engagement between Goa, a former Portuguese colony and Portugal.
“We discussed in detail about co-operation in sectors like heritage, tourism, science, oceanography, promotion of Portuguese language, etc which could help Goa and Portugal,” Parsekar told The Pioneer, after the meeting with Costa.
“I feel we, Goans, should feel proud that people who ruled us for 450 years, long back, today, a person of Goan origin is heading entire Portugal. It should be a matter of pride for all of us,” Parsekar also said, dismissing calls from regional political parties to seek an apology from Costa for atrocities on Goans during the 451 year colonial regime.
At the meeting with the Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, where Costa shared his childhood memories of Goa, the Portuguese Prime Minister was given a tour of Raj Bhavan, which has a variety of Portuguese-era antiques.
“He underscored the significance of the ties between India and Portugal. He commented on the Portuguese integration into Indian culture among other things,” a statement issued by Raj Bhavan said.
Costa also met top scientists at the National Institute of Oceanography in Dona Paula near the state capital, where the lawyer-turned-politician expressed his desire to extend co-operation vis a vis exploration of the Oceans and marine science.
“He also agreed to extend the collaborative research programs, and also expressed their willingness to initiate new programs in the field of marine robotics, global navigation systems and microbial biotechnology,” an NIO official said.
“The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa highlighted the cultural and scientific exchange with India and expressed keen interest in extending the joint research programs between NIO and Portuguese research institutions and the Prime Minister assured his support in order to improve our understanding of the oceanographic processes and utilisation of its resources,” the NIO said in a statement following Costa's visit.
later in the day, Costa attended a civic reception in his honour in Panaji, where an English translation of his father Orlando Costa's Portuguese play ‘Sem Caras Nem Coros’ was released.
Costa recalled his father and his fond memories for Goa, while also describing his visit to India as special. “Goa was always present in his works. When I speak of my father, I am reminded of one character in one of his works that says ‘Wherever I go or am taken, I will always be in my homeland," he said.
“I feel proud visiting my father’s land. This visit is strongly emotional for me. My father went to lisbon but never left Goa because Goa never left him,” he also said.
Costa, who has already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the earlier part of his seven-day visit, said that as a person of Indian origin, this visit was special.
“As a person of Indian origin, I was honoured by the invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay a state visit to India. This is not just one more visit to a foreign country,” he said.