Portugal PM Antonio Costa to trace roots in Goa

New Delhi: In a widely-anticipated and historic visit, Indian-origin Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will visit Goa and “spend some time at his ancestral place” during his official visit to India from January 6 to 12.

Apart from holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 7, the Portuguese Prime Minister will attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas as the chief guest in Bengaluru on January 8 and 9 and will also attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on January 10 in Gujarat’s Capital Gandhinagar. On January 11 and 12, Mr. Costa will pay a historic visit to Goa.

In a statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said, “Prime Minister of Portugal Mr Antonio Costa will be visiting India on a state visit during January 6-12, 2017 on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders will hold official talks on January 7 in New Delhi. During the visit PM Costa is also expected to call on the President and the vice-president. Several MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit that would set the agenda for India-Portugal relations going forward. PM Costa is likely to be accompanied by several Ministers. Prime Minister Costa will attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas as the Chief Guest in Bengaluru on 8-9 January 2017, and would also participate in few business events. PM Costa will also attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on 10 January 2017 at Gandhinagar. In the last leg of his visit to India, PM Costa will be in Goa on 11-12 January 2017. In Goa, he would be meeting the governor and chief minister. PM Costa who traces his roots to Goa, will also spend some time at his ancestral place.”

According to Indian media reports last year, Mr Costa, born in Portugal’s capital Lisbon in 1961, is the son of prominent novelist Orlando da Costa, whose writings included essays on Rabindranath Tagore. His father had spent most of his youth in Goa, then under Portuguese rule. Costa’s grandfather, Luis Afonso Maria da Costa, who was reportedly born and brought up in Goa, was a descendant of prominent Hindu families who converted to Christianity during the centuries of Portuguese rule. Mr Costa became the Portugal Prime Minister last year as the leader of the Socialist Party.