Chinese minister has shown interest in Goa projects: CM

Panaji, Aug 12 (IANS) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed interest in the upcoming Electronic City and IT Park projects in Goa, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said on Friday, while also hinting at possible Chinese investment in the projects.

Speaking to reporters after hosting Wang over breakfast, Parsekar also said that it was a matter of honour that Goa had been chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to host the BRICS summit, scheduled to be held in October this year.

"He has shown interest in Goa's electronic city and IT Park and said that after the BRICS summit they would be interested in bringing investment here and we have welcomed it. Especially there is scope for investment in electronic city, because we are in a budding stage," Parsekar said.

The Electronic City at Tuem village and the IT Park at Chimbel village are two pet projects of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government in Goa.

Wang was in Goa to review the logistical and security arrangement for the BRICS summit, which Chinese President Xi Jinping would attend.

Wang is also expected to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Saturday.

"He came here to see for himself the ongoing preparation for BRICS. We had discussion over breakfast," the Chief Minister told reporters at the state legislative assembly complex.

"The central government has given Goa the opportunity to host the BRICS summit in 2016. It shows the significance which has been given to Goa by the Prime Minister. Goa and China share historic ties," Parsekar said.