Union minister says State to be promoted as investment destination n To be marketed globally in association with foreign airlines n Global event on cards in November
the goan I network
VASCO
In a major boost to the State’s startup policy, Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday said Goa would be made the national capital of Startups and would be marketed globally in association with foreign Airlines.
Prabhu also said Goa would be promoted as an investment destination and a global event inviting major global companies in the world be held in Goa somewhere in November.
Prabhu also informed that April 26 would be observed as Innovation Day in Goa and in June the World Bank, international finance corporations and the global venture capitalists would be called to Goa and have a round table to assess how to nurture the ecosystem for the startups in the country.
Prabhu was addressing media persons after the inspection of renovation work at the Dabolim airport in the presence of Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, TCP minister Vijai Sardesai, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar amd AAI Director BCH Negi.
Prabhu further said that Mopa airport would be operational by September 2020 and Dabolim airport would continue operating .
“Through The Ministry of Civil Aviation, I have decided to market Goa globally and I am talking to foreign airlines. I had a meeting with Global CEO of Singapore Airlines and I told him to market destinations in India particularly Goa and this is what I would do with all the other leading airlines like Emirates, Lufthansa etc. The idea is to get more tourists and high-end tourists to Goa,” said Prabhu.
He said Goa has its own identity and a huge potential and it was time to enhance the value of that identity and Goa and the Centre were working as partners to help increase tourist inflow and local economy.
“We also decided that on April 26 we will observe and Innovation Day in Goa and in June we will invite the World Bank, international finance corporations and the Global venture capitalists to come to Goa and have a round table to see how we can nurture the ecosystem for startups in the country. Our idea is that Goa should be the national capital for startups and therefore this is what we plan to do”, he Prabhu.
“Hopefully in the month of November we should have a global event on startups where all the startup companies of the world will be invited to participate in this event”, said Prabhu.
INNOVATION DAY: Prabhu said April 26 would be observed as Innovation Day in Goa and in June the World Bank, international finance corporations and the global venture capitalists would be invited to Goa to have a round table to assess how to nurture the ecosystem for startups in the country
CARGO HUB: Besides passengers, the new Mopa airport will be promoted for exports as well as a hub for handling cargo. Prabhu said a proposal was on cards in this direction
TAXI COUNTER: AAI will soon enter into an agreement with Govt of Goa to operate another taxi counter under GTDC to ensure that more locals get taxis to operate besides providing additional taxis for passengers and tourists
LOCAL PRODUCTS: Prabhu said it was decided that Goa government would be allotted a counter at the airport where local products and souvenirs made by self help groups and products by the farmers would be displayed and promoted
NEW FACILITIES: Prabhu said toilets and washrooms at the Dabolim airport were being modernised and various amenities like aerobridge and multi-level parking and more parking spaces would be ready before the next tourist season.
