BY RAMNATH N PAI RAIKAR | NT

PANAJI: The Ambassador of Portugal to India, Dr Luis Filipe de Castro Mendes on Saturday said that Goa could become a hub for establishing and strengthening economic relations between not only India and Portugal, but India and other Portuguese speaking countries like Brazil in South America, Angola and Mozambique in Africa and Macao in the East.

"In fact, the Chinese government has set up a Centre for Portuguese Studies after Macao was handed over to China," he said, observing that in a similar way, Goa too can have an important role to play towards the development of such relations.

The Ambassador of Portugal to India, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ at the official residence of the Consul General of Portugal in Goa said that of recent, the opportunities for trade and commerce between Portugal and India have increased tremendously. "And these opportunities have gone beyond traditional trade exercises, such as setting up of small product manufacturing units and exports," he noted.

"In fact, now the doors have opened for large investments in our each others’ countries," Dr Mendes maintained, stating that the Tata Group has already opened a shoe manufacturing plant in Portugal. "Besides the Tatas, there are number of major Indian companies that are making large investments in Portugal and have their offices opened in my country," he stated, further noting that the Portuguese investors too are looking out for investment options in India.

Speaking further, the Portuguese Ambassador to India said that EFACEC Group, the largest electrical and electromechanical product group in Portugal, is expanding its business in India. "The Group has a joint venture with Godrej and is involved in high technology electricals in India," he informed.

The EFACEC Group was founded in Portugal way back in the year 1907, and is present in all the areas of power generation; transmission and distribution; and control and automation, in that country.

Dr Mendes finally reiterated that the knowledge of Portuguese language could become an advantage for Goans, especially Goan entrepreneurs as well as traders, and help them establish ties with Portuguese speaking countries in the field of trade and commerce.