I HAD the honour and privilege of being present at the mass presided over by Pope John Paul II on February 6, 1986 at the Campal grounds in Panaji. This was the only visit made by the Pope to Goa. Pope John Paul had come to Mumbai for the Ecumenical Congress and decided to address the faithful in Panaji, Goa. Lakhs of Christians, not only from Goa but from the neighbouring areas, came for the Mass.

The convenor for the Pope’s visit was Fr Almir. The excellent arrangements for the smooth entry, exit and accommodation of the pilgrims was made by Francisco Martin and his team. The backdrop of the people mass was a giant steel cross erected by the late Erasmo Sequeira.

I had the privilege of an audience with Pope John Paul II, who was born in Poland. Pope John Paul II played a major role in the Solidarity movement, which resulted in the liberation of Poland from Russian rule. The Pope shook hands with me and we discussed the Solidarity movement in Poland. I was presented with a gold medal by Pope John Paul II at the end of his visit.

(Contributed by Rajan Narayan)

CASHEW FEST POSTPONED

THE much celebrated Goa Cashew Festival which was to kick off on Friday, April 25  has been postponed in the light of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack. The annual cashew fest promoted by the Goa Forest Development Corporation seeks to highlight cashew products, including cashew fenny. Cashew fenny has been given the GPI tag, which means that only fenny made of cashew fruit in Goa can call itself fenny. Ironically, as admitted by Chairperson of the Forest Corporation Divya Rane, cashew processors are being forced to move to Maharashtra. Many leading cashew growers in Goa have shifted their factories to neighbouring Maharashtra which offers better incentives to cashew producers.

SKYSCRAPPER AT CHIMBEL

THE tallest building in Goa, which will be over 25 storeys high, is expected to come up in Chimbel. The building, to be called Prashasan Stamb, will house various offices of the Goa government. The Goa  Cabinet has approved the transfer of 25,000 sq mtrs of land to the general administration department. The building was originally proposed to be based in the Patto area of Panaji.

RUSH TO WATERFALLS

WITH the increase in the simmering  summer heat there is a rush to all the waterfalls in the state. Goa has access to e many smaller waterfalls besides the famous Dudhsagar waterfalls, particularly in Sattari taluka. Among the so described hill stations in Goa is the village of Surla, which is located 800 meters above sea level. Surla is a tribal village on the edge of the jungle with gushing waterfalls and small lakes. Surla is much cooler than the rest of Goa even during the height of summer. A lot of Goans also travel to Amboli during the hot summer months. But locals in the villages where the waterfalls are located resent the invasion of holiday makers who litter the place and disturb the peaceful lifestyles of the villagers.

CHEAP CHINESE IMPORT

IN the wake of the high import duties imposed by Donald Trump, imports from China have increased greatly. China is being accused of dumping export rejects in India as the US market is now closed. China has also started a campaign against the United States.

China has been pointing out in Youtube offensives that many of the expensive US branded items from iPhones to handbags and watches are actually manufactured in China. The cost of manufacture is only 10% compared to the exorbitant prices at which they are sold in the US and abroad. The Chinese have pointed out that the world has been brand washed like brain washed. Consumers are paying not for the value of goods but the brand image inflated by advertisements.

GOA DELEGATION VISITS EDII AHMEDABAD 

A HIGH-level delegation representing the government of Goa, comprising of senior officers Suneel Anchipaka, IAS Secretary Industries, Trade and Commerce, Asvin Chandru, IAS, Director industries, Education department, EDC Ltd,  Skill development & Information and Publicity department, visited Entrepreneurship Development Institute  of India, Ahmedabad to study and  brainstorm over strategies and measures to be taken to promote entrepreneurship in Goa. 

The delegates visit is an outcome of Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant’s initiative to set up Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Goa to promote entrepreneurship education and training amongst the youth and students in Goa. Ahmedabad-based Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) is one of the topmost entity in the country in this field and was beckoned to undertake the task to support Goa in this endeavour.

EDII set up the EDII-Goa Centre which was inaugurated on March 12, 2024. Under the leadership of Dr Pramod Sawant in one year the centre has remarkably supported the growth of new enterprises in new and upcoming areas, existing MSMEs, entrepreneurship education and rural development, leading to inclusive entrepreneurship advancement. 

The delegation brainstormed over the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the ways to effectively leverage cutting-edge technologies and entrepreneurial parameters to ensure a positive and upbeat entrepreneurial landscape in Goa

The delegation, talking about youth power, discussed how the youths could be impressed upon to play a significant role in the sphere of entrepreneurship development.  Discussions centered around creating micro-incubators in college/university campuses to nurture and incubate creative ideas of students, in addition to training and counselling them in entrepreneurial dynamics.  

The themes of discussions were start-ups, innovations, technology advancement, MSME growth, women entrepreneurship promotion and rural development. Many initiatives are expected to be taken by the state government to improve the entrepreneurial eco system in the state to support and promote entrepreneurship.

IHCL STRENGTHENS PRESENCE IN GOA

INDIAN Hotels Company Ltd, India’s  largest hospitality company, has  announced the signing of a SeleQtions hotel in Anjuna, Goa, a conversion of a stand-alone resort with expansion of inventory to 51 keys.  

Suma Venkatesh, executive vice-president–Real Estate & Development,IHCL says, “Goa, with its vast and scenic coastline, remains one of India’s most sought-after travel destination. It continues to witness growing demand for experiential stays in distinctive locations like Anjuna. With a legacy of over five decades in the state, this signing reinforces IHCL’s strategy of deepening its presence in key leisure markets. We are pleased to partner with RavinderKumar for this project.”

Nestled in one of North Goa’s most vibrant locales, the 51-key IHCLSeleQtions Anjuna,is a picturesque resort. The hotel  offers an array of culinary experiences, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant and a cocktail bar. Guests can unwind with a range of recreational amenities such as a swimming pool and a well-equipped gym.

According to Ravinder Kumar (director, Just Perfect Resorts Goa Pvt Ltd),  “Partnering with IHCL marks a defining moment for us. This partnership allows us to marry the reach of the SeleQtions platform with the uniqueness of this property. With IHCL’s legacy of excellence and the region’s rising prominence, we envision creating a landmark that sets new benchmarks in hospitality, and becomes a source of pride for Goa.”

Anjuna is known for its golden sands and stunning Arabian Sea views, features iconic landmarks like Chapora Fort and Albuquerque Mansion, along with a vibrant beachside restaurants and nightlife.

ITE&C MINISTER MEETS ALLOTTEES AT EMC TUEM

AS part of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, government of Goa’s efforts to operationalise the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Tuem, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications Rohan A Khaunte conducted an on-site review with plot allottees, stakeholders and senior officials to support and facilitate the next phase of development on April 22, 2025.

The minister held the meeting at the Administrative Building of the EMC in Tuem, joined by MLA and Chairperson of InfoTech Corporation of Goa Ltd, Dr Chandrakant Shetye; Director of DITE&C,  Kabir Shirgaonkar; managing director of Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITG),  Praveen Volvotkar; and chief engineer, Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC) and Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITG), Subrai Nadkarni.

During the visit the minister engaged with each plot allottee to gain insight into their development plans and reaffirm the department’s support in facilitating timely progress — including expediting processes related to electricity and water connections, and identifying skilling needs to support future operations at the cluster. In addition, the visit also included discussions with government departments such as Fire & Emergency Services, Police and ESI requirements, focusing on infrastructure alignment and ensuring readiness for their upcoming operations within the cluster.

“This cluster is part of Goa’s larger ambition to strengthen its presence in the electronic manufacturing space,” said  Mr Khaunte. “We are moving from policy to on-ground action, ensuring that investors and departments get the clearances, coordination, and confidence needed to build here. Today’s meeting wasn’t just about reviewing progress—it was about removing roadblocks and enabling immediate momentum.” The review meeting reflects the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication’s proactive approach to building an industry-ready environment through collaboration, responsiveness, and forward planning at EMC Tuem.