Bill Text: HI SCR20 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Sister State Relationship; Goa, India
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-1)
Status: (Passed) 2016-04-28 - Received notice of Senate agreement and Adoption (Sen. Com No. 710). [SCR20 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SCR20-Amended.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
20 |
|
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE STATE OF GOA OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA.
WHEREAS, the State of Hawai‘i is actively seeking to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, and economic relations between the people of Hawai‘i and the people of many nations; and
WHEREAS, the Republic of India, one of the most diverse and the most populous democratic countries in South Asia, is recognized internationally as the future of economic development; and
WHEREAS, Goa is thought of as a leader in technology, and could provide opportunities for student exchanges with the University of Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, Goa, the twenty-fifth state of the Union of States of India, is a small state on the west coast of India, and like Hawai‘i, Goa's beautiful beaches and rich tropical landscape have made it a popular vacation destination for national and international visitors, and have attracted a robust surfing community; and
WHEREAS, Goa is one of the richest states in India, having the highest gross state domestic product per capita with tourism leading its economic growth; and a relationship between Goa and Hawai‘i would provide new opportunities to import and export goods and services between the states; and
WHEREAS, a relationship between Hawai‘i and Goa will create new possibilities to share markets involving medicinal, herbal, and other food products, and to trade agricultural and culinary knowledge related to these products; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has recognized the Western Ghats mountain range as a World Heritage Site; and the biological, geological, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Western Ghats that lie within Goa's boundaries are preserved by the designation of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests; and
WHEREAS, similar to Hawai‘i, Goa has an ethnically diverse population, and its people speak a variety of languages, including Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English; and
WHEREAS, Goa's people live harmoniously with each other while practicing a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism; and
WHEREAS, Goa's diversity is also evident in its architectural landscape, with buildings showcasing a combination of Indian, Islamic, and Portuguese influences; and
WHEREAS, Hawai‘i and Goa are coastal states with diverse ecosystems, populations, cultures, languages, and religions that value the economic growth and sustainability that benefit all residents; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 229-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is tasked with evaluating and developing recommendations for the initiation of all sister-state relationships, and forwarding its recommendations to the Legislature for implementation by either adopting a concurrent resolution or enacting session law to that effect; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Sister-State Committee has reviewed the Hawaii/Goa sister-state application and recommended that a sister-state relationship be established between Hawai‘i and Goa; and
WHEREAS, this body believes that a sister-state relationship between Hawai‘i and Goa would promote mutual commerce and trade in areas such as tourism and the film industry, and would increase opportunities for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawai‘i of the United States of America and the State of Goa of the Republic of India is hereby established; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii; Governor of the State of Goa; Consul General of India in San Francisco; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chair of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.
Sister State Relationship; Goa, India
