NEW DELHI: Nearly 1,300 delegates will gather here for Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, the annual conclave to connect with Indian Diaspora from January 7, with focus on showcasing Northeast as an attractive investment destination and engaging young overseas Indians in development process.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the ninth edition of the three-day conclave on January eight while President Pratibha Patil will deliver the valedictory address on January nine.
Top businessmen, economists and scientists will be among 1,300 delegates from over 40 countries who will participate in the event.
The flagship event of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs will also provide the Diaspora an opportunity to interact with Union Ministers including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the Northeastern states will be the partner states for the event and government will try its best to showcase investment opportunities in the region.
“Northeastern states have a huge potential for investment and we will try our best to showcase the region as an attractive destination for the investors,” Ravi told reporters.
Complimenting Ravi for deciding to focus on Northeastern states during the prestigious event, Minister for Development of Northeastern Region B K Handique said they are hoping that the region will attract the massive investments needed by it.
“Northeast is a huge virgin land looking for investment. We have great hope from the event,” he said at a joint press conference with Ravi.
The conclave will also have a plenary session on “Engaging young overseas Indians”, besides two other session on education and health care services.
Ravi said the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council comprising 20 top global business leaders and economists of Indian origin including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, steel magnate L N Mittal and Pepsi chief Indra Nooyi will meet on January seven.
The Minister said during the last Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised that Indian passport holders living abroad could get voting rights and that promise has almost been fulfilled.
“The Parliament had already passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 to allow NRIs to exercise their franchise in Indian elections. The Election Commission is now in the process of finalizing modalities for enrolment of names of Indian passport holders living abroad,” he said.
Anand Satyanand, the Governor General of New Zealand, has been invited to the event as the chief guest.
Noting that the UPA government has been taking several measures to promote the NE region, Ravi said his ministry would provide skill development training to those from the region who want to go abroad for livelihood.
Among the decisions taken by the government as a result of wider consultations held at earlier PBDs are formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, conceptualization of PIO University and setting up of the India Development Foundation.
Gautam Ahuja, professor at Michigan University, will deliver the C K Prahlada memorial lecture.
More than 1,200 participants from over 40 countries had attended the last Pravasi Bhartiya Divas held in Delhi earlier this year.
-PTI
