Even as Goa gears up to host the prestigious BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit, Russia and China are expected to each send delegate teams of 300 members. The summit is expected to be organized from 15th to 16th October. Ministry of External Affairs has also informed Goa that the state should expect around 800-900 delegates from all the member countries for the said event. Laxmikant Parsekar, the Chief Minister of Goa, has already visited Delhi and had meetings with Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, and Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, where he has informed them how prepared the state is for the event.
How is Goa getting ready?
Goa is investing in beautifying the tourist attractions in the state. It is also going to promote itself as a tourist location when the summit goes on. The event is expected to be held at a five star hotel in Benaulim, South Goa. MEA has also booked other five star hotels in the vicinity of this hotel and during the event bigger sections of the hotel will be used to put up leaders from the visiting countries, as well as security officers and other dignitaries that accompany them.
Various arrangements
It is expected that the flights of visiting dignitaries will land at the runway of the civil enclave of an air station of Indian Navy at Dabolim. At present, the authorities are attempting to sort out information regarding the number of aircraft that would be landing there and the parts of the airport that will be used for resting during the event. This will also help them make the appropriate arrangements.
Requests from the CM
Parsekar has already asked for central forces in order to make sure that there is extra security during the event. He has also stated that he will request air ambulance service so that any and every unexpected accident and mishap can be adequately dealt with.
Who are coming?
Apart from the heads of the member nations, heads of state from six other countries will be taking part in the event. Narendra Modi has also extended invitations to leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand that are member countries of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). These countries will take part in the retreat session that happens after the main event gets over. It is expected that Goa Declaration – a potentially history-making one – would be announced after the event gets over.
Why is it important?
This is the eighth edition of the said summit. The participants are supposed to discuss bilateral relations as well as many other important issues. This will include both economic and financial issues, and they will also discuss issues pertaining to countering terrorism. The basic idea behind the event is to discuss issues that are of importance to all the participants. According to the authorities, BRICS is slowly becoming important in the context of global politics and they also feel that by organizing the event India will be deciding the agenda in such an important event.
Why is it being held in Goa?
Normal logic would dictate that an event of such importance should be held in the national capital. However, according to authorities, the event is being organized in Goa as part of the Prime Minister’s vision of federalism where cooperation is the key. Hosting it in Goa is also expected to show to the world the diversity in India. Incidentally there was another city in southern India that was competing with Goa to host this event but in the end it was the coastal state that was preferred by the central administration. It is also expected that with this event there would be greater exposure on the state and it would ultimately benefit from the same, especially in terms of tourism. A similar effect was achieved in 1983 when Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in the state.
