The Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, has confirmed that he will be visiting India next year.
Mr. Costa made the confirmation while greeting the Indian community in Portugal on India’s 72nd Independence Day. He ended his message by saying that he would be accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India and join the National Committee formed to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The panel has 125 members, of which 116 are from India. The others are acclaimed foreign members.
Mr. Costa, who is of Goan origin, in an op-ed in in Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias, said, “To all the Indians around the world, and especially to the members of the Indian community in Portugal, I wish a happy and auspicious Independence Day.” He recalled his visit to Goa in January last year and spoke about the Goan diaspora and the importance of Portugal and India growing together in the 21st century. Mr. Costa said the two countries have signed agreements in the fields of science and technology.
He spoke of student exchanges between the two countries and how the Portugal-India business hub is a great platform to promote business between entrepreneurs in the nations.