GOA, INDIA - WTC Goa officials met with the Belgium delegation at WTC Goa headquarters, Panjim Goa on March 29, 2016. Ms Ambika Dhakhenkar, Asst. Mgr, WTC Goa welcomed H.E. Peter Huyghebaert, Consul General of Belgium and Ms Emmanuelle Timmermans, Trade & Investment Commissioner, Consulate General of Belgium AWEX Mumbai, also present was Mr. Manguirish Pai Raiker, Advisor, WTC Goa. The focal point of the meeting was to address various ways to boost economic ties with Goa, India.

CG Huyghebaert expressed keen interest in developing bilateral trade relations revolving around prime sectors like waste management, tourism, and food processing. He specifically emphasized on taking up projects like river dredging of the Inland Waters, to make rivers navigable and improve the inbound/outbound logistics, and also encouraged WTC Goa members, to visit and explore the Antwerp Port in Belgium.

Timmermans embarked upon the formulation of joint ventures with the tourism industry to address the growing demands of private charters, which is currently non-existing, between Goa and Belgium. She also acquainted herself, with the Goan Foods processing industry and mentioned that, it is also one of the area of interest for their prime investors.

Mr Raiker spoke about the Goan history and long-lasting cultural ties with Europe, for almost half a millennium since the Portuguese, entry to the mainland in their quest of establishing western trade. Goa is one of the leading exporter of cashew nuts and marine canned products, he highlighted. He also mentioned the state's growing potential to export flowers like orchids to Belgium, which is an importer of various floral species from African and other countries.

Ms Dhakhenkar familiarized the delegates with the fact that, one of the well known, Goan Management Institute is already partnering with the University of Antwerp, Belgium to conduct joint foreign (Faculty & Student both) exchange programs in management. The Joint International Internship Seminar (JIIS), is also held every year with the students of both the institutes working together on live projects in organizations in Goa, she added. Additionally, Dhakhenkar asserted to work collectively with the Consulate, in order to benefit its members and the Goan business community, to foster trade and investments in the state.

PHOTO (L-R): Ms Emmanuelle Timmermans, Trade & Investment Commissioner, Consulate General of Belgium AWEX Mumbai, Mr. Manguirish Pai Raiker, Advisor, WTC Goa, H.E. Peter Huyghebaert, Consul General of Belgium and Ms Ambika Dhakhenkar, Asst. Mgr, WTC Goa

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