Marshall Mendonza Subject: [Goanet] Potholes and BRICS (Times of India, 15/roh/2016)
A ready reckoner where India stands vis-a-vis other BRICS countries Slowing economies, divergent outlooks: BRICS needs mortar to be relevant -------------GL responds: Different individuals and different BRICS leaders have differing agendas for such grand meetings. And folks achieve varying levels of success. As suggested in a post in the TOI, the less-than-average South Goans were hoping to get a new refurbished road going through their villages. Likely the more-than-average Goans was hoping to make an added tourist-rupee from of this big event. The Taj, the Hyatt and other upper class hotels (and their GOAN employees) achieved their targets and their big tips. The Goan cab drivers and the restauranteurs had a roaring business. The leader of BRICS hope such meetings improve trade. And individual importers and exporters from the various countries who came for this meeting likely met their expectations. To most this meeting was not their first rodeo (as they say in America). They wined, dined, made and sealed their deals. The news was ablaze about the multi-crore contracts the big private Indian defense contractors and those in the energy sectors signed with the Russians. Likely there were also behind the scenes and behind the newspaper-headline talks with entrepreneurs from China, Brazil and South Africa. Every long journey and trade relationship begins with a small first step. It is a pity the many more Goans did not avail themselves of the opportunity and participate in the small first steps to look at the larger picture and develop a dialog and contacts with their counterparts in rest of India and rest of the World. For just a solitary example, Goa could show-case its college (undergraduate and postgraduate) educational system and be a center for international learning. Regards, GL
