STATEMENT BY SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO, COMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING (November 10, 2008) We have formulated the 'Know Goa' programme for youth of Goan origin who are not Indian nationals, have distinguished themselves in a particular field, as professionals or students, and who have an abiding interest in India. The programme will be an annual feature. In this first year the programme will be held from November 30 - December 14, 2008. There are 11 participants coming from Australia, Canada, Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S.A. The programme is co-ordinated by Director, NRI Affairs, Shri U.D. Kamat and will take place in Goa and Delhi. It is being organized in collaboration with Government and non-governmental agencies including the Nehru Yuvak Kendra. During their stay in Goa, the participants will visit the Goa University, National Institute of Oceanography, Chowgule College, BITS Pilani and interact with the students and staff.They will attend the feast of St. Francis Xavier, visit Pilar Seminary, Mangueshi, Shantadurga and Chandreshwar temples, the Safa Masjid and meet religious leaders. The participants will go to villages and observe the making of village handicrafts, indigenous games and dances, witness a mock Gram-sabha and visit the South Goa Zilla Parishad office.They will also stop at several other places of tourist and general interest in Goa. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit when I met her in New Delhi last month agreed to my request and her office will make all the necessary arrangements for this group in Delhi. She told me that she would like to meet the group herself, though the visit will take place at the height of the electoral campaign for the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs also agreed to assist the group during their stay in Delhi. We propose to bring together on one platform, all Goan organizations outside Goa, whether in India or abroad. After consultations with a significant number of such organizations, we shall set up the Global Goans Forum to arrange regular activities for interaction with and amongst the Goan diaspora. The Forum will play a vital role in research, data management and policy support. A preliminary meeting on this subject was held last Friday at the Secretariat and representatives of the Goan community in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Kenya participated. I have requested our Ambassadors and High Commissioners across the world to contact Goan organizations so that they may appoint their representatives here and we may finalize the plan of action towards constitution of the Global Goans Forum. I have been invited to address the Asia Pacific Summit Conference being held from next Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. The Conference will be addressed by some Heads of State and Government as well as senior parliamentarians and diplomats from the Asia Pacific region. I have written to our Ambassador in Japan to identify Goan residents in Tokyo so that I may meet them but our Embassy has not been able to contact any such persons so far. I request Goans in Tokyo, through the media, to get in touch with our Embassy so that they may arrange a meeting where the Ambassador and I will interact with the Goan expatriates. I am occasionally invited to participate in such conferences abroad and I avail of the opportunity to interact with Goans in those countries. Sometime ago I was in Portugal and met the Goan community at "Casa de Goa" in Lisbon. On another occasion, I was in New York and met the representatives of the Goan community at the Consulate General in that city. These visits take place on invitation from international agencies and there is no financial liability incurred by our State or Union Governments on such occasions. (ends)