Goa needs to create permanent infra to host IFFI: Manohar Parrikar

Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said Goa is doing justice to the selection of the state as permanent venue to host IFFI.

Panaji, Nov 20 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said Goa needs to create permanent infrastructure to host IFFI.

The Centre in 2014 had declared Goa as a permanent venue to host this annual film festival.

"The next step for Goa is to create permanent infrastructure to host IFFI," said Parrikar, a former Chief Minister of the coastal state.

Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said Goa is doing justice to the selection of the state as permanent venue to host IFFI.

"Infact, in 2004, I remember Madam Sushma (Sushma Swaraj) was minister in-charge when Goa was first declared (as a) venue for IFFI," Parsekar told reporters on the red carpet during the inauguration of IFFI at Dr Shama Prasad Mukherjee stadium near here.

"It was milestone in the life of Goa when the state hosted IFFI for the first time. Thereafter in 2014 it was during Jaitley's (Arun Jaitley) time that Centre declared Goa as a permanent venue," he recalled.

"That was a great achievement. I believe we are doing justice to the job, I am confident that our presentation every year is improving," he added.

The film festival which was earlier held in Delhi was hosted in Goa for the first time in 2004.

Entertainment Society of Goa and Directorate of Film Festival are organising this festival.

PTI