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IFFI-Goa to get global recognition within 5 yrs: CM NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Nov 28: The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar today said that the state government has completed the required infrastructure facilities for holding the 35th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) within eight months and fulfilled the assurance given to the directorate of film festival (DFF) for holding the festival in Goa. Addressing a press conference at the IFFI conference hall at Kala Academy this afternoon, Mr Parrikar said the state government was committed to achieve success like Cannes film festival within next four to five years and that nobody should think that Goa is interested in becoming replica of Cannes. “I have confidence that within next four to five years IFFI-Goa will get prominent recognition globally,” Mr Parrikar said. Mr Parrikar said Goa was initially selected as the festival venue by the former I&B minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, when she visited Goa for election campaign two years ago. The core committee of the ministry has also favoured Goa as an ideal venue for holding film festival and Kala Academy and Campal area was selected by the members of this committee in 2003. Mr Parrikar said the Centre has decided to make Goa the permanent venue for IFFI. He further said that these views were reiterated by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Mr Jaipal Reddy during a meeting last month in New Delhi. He said in spite of change in the government at the Centre, the central government stood firm on Goa being the venue for 35th IFFI, even though some locals were disappointed. Stating that while fulfilling the assurance over creating facilities for IFFI, Mr Parrikar said the government has also added some more infrastructures for Panaji city, which was of paramount importance. The state government has spend around Rs 50 crore on creating IFFI infrastructure, while another Rs 30 crore has been spent on beatification of the city. Mr Parrikar said since this is being first IFFI is being organised in Goa there might have been some inconvenience to the media persons and delegates, but assured to resolve the difficulties by tomorrow. Stating that there were no differences with the DFF, Mr Parrikar said since bureaucratic tangle is attached to government departments, the things are not moving fast. In order to avoid the bureaucratic angle, Mr Parrikar said the ESG was established by the government so as to expedite the mater. The festivals such as IFFI should be free from red-tapism, Mr Parrikar said. Mr Parrikar said a hospitality counter would cater to the needs of the media persons and delegates from tomorrow. To a question, Mr Parrikar said state government was spending around Rs 6 to 7 crore on the IFFI.
