Overseas Indians to accumulate for three-day appointment

THE problems faced by Indians in the UAE and other GCC countries as well as prospects that await them will be the subject of discussion among non-resident Indians, who will gather from across the world at the 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, to be held in New Delhi from Friday to Sunday.A flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, it brings together the overseas Indian community over a three-day period.The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the Valedictory Address.UAE-based prominent Indian Mohan Jashanmal and a few other distinguished NRIs from other parts of the world will be honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on the occasion. The award will be presented by the President of India.

Other highlights of the three-day event include the participation of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Eight North Eastern States along with Sikkim as partners to the event. It will provide a platform to the representative of participant states to engage with overseas Indians in general and with people from North Eastern States residing abroad in particular.Two pre-conference seminars on Healthcare and Education abroad will be held. Plenary Sessions of Chief Minister of North Eastern States and Minister DoNER and a Group of Union Ministers interaction will also be conducted. To engage the young overseas Indians, a special session on ‘India and its young overseas Indian’ is also scheduled.Other parallel sessions include an Industry Round Table which will witness the involvement of Indian Industry leaders and diaspora, Information Communication & Entertainment: Business Opportunities and Celebrating Global Indians.

A Trade and Industry Exhibition with the participation of corporates, financial institutions, state governments, NGOs and others will run concurrently at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.The PBD provides a platform to engage, interact and build mutually beneficial networks. The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi has urged NRIs to participate and discover areas of common interest and engagement. He has especially called upon young overseas Indians to participate with enthusiasm.