We converted BRICS meet from challenge to opportunity: Goa CM

Hosting the upcoming BRICS meet was a challenge, which the Goa government has turned into an opportunity, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said on Wednesday.

He also said the global event would help promote Goa further as a tourism destination.

"Goa was selected because of its scenic beauty and prevailing harmony among the people here," Parsekar said while addressing a meeting of government officials related to preparatory works for the two-day BRICS meet scheduled for October 15-16.

"We decided to convert the challenge of hosting a summit of such importance into an opportunity because it will take Goa to greater heights. It's a great experience and challenge for us. BRICS is a milestone in the growth of Goa," he said.

"Goa had not submitted any proposal to host the summit, but it was in fact, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj who chose Goa as the venue," Parsekar said.

"They were confident about our ability to host such a major summit. Goa is proud of this. The entire machinery of the government has been geared up to host the heads of these 11 nations, which constitute around 40 per cent of the world's population," he added.

"Just as we get ready for festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Christmas and use them as a reason to clean our houses, let us look at the BRICS summit as an opportunity to continue the momentum that has already started of inculcating a civic sense in the Goan society," the Chief Minister said.

--IANS

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