Panaji (Goa) In a bid to ease the process of having visas specially for the students, the concept has been mooted to have sister city concept between Goa’s capital city of Panaji and Portugal’s Lisbon, a senior functionary said today.
Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Surendra Furtado who hosted Consul General of Portugal Francisco Durate Azavedo at his office in Panaji has put forth this concept which will help the students to study abroad.
“I have been discussing with most of the counsel general that we should have sister city relation between Panaji and Lisbon,” Furtado told reporters after meeting the Consul General.
“ Lot of our students want to go abroad for studies. They are facing difficulties in getting visas and admission in those universities. If the CCP could be of any help or assistance, let our young boys and girls get the facility,” he said.
Goa was a Portuguese colony for around 450 years before it was liberated by Indian armed forces in the year 1961.
Furtado said that both the countries should forget the bitterness which was witnessed in the past and look forward for a brighter future with cooperation with each other.
“We have to forget the past and move on. There was a freedom movement to liberate Goa and due to which there was lot of bitterness. The world is changing. We must forget about the past and start something new if we have to improve quality of life,” he said.
Furtado said that the countries will have to take assistance from each other keeping aside religion, politics and other issues.
During the meeting with Consul General, Furtado also sought cooperation from Portugal to celebrate 175th anniversary of Panaji city.
“I have told the honourable counsel general that Panaji cwill be celebrating its 175th anniversary as a city on March 23, 2018. Since Portugal ruled goa for 450 years it would be nice if they could assist us in different way like art and culture, tourism, urban management,” he said.
Furtado said that he asked the Consul General to tink of something where his country could be the part of this celebration.
