By IRNA,
New Delhi : India’s annual event “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas” to connect with its 25-million-strong diaspora in 130 countries began Thursday at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The Eight meeting of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas inaugurated by Minister for Overseas Affairs Vyalar Ravi. prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the three-day event on Friday while President Pratibha Patil will deliver her valedictory address on January nine.
The theme of this year’s event is “Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward”. Nearly 1,500 delegates from over 50 countries including top businessmen, economists, entrepreneurs and scientists are participating in the event which will also see participation of 15 chief ministers and several Union ministers.
One of the major highlights of the event will be the first meeting of 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. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Prime Minister’s residence tomorrow.
Key speakers from abroad include Canada’s Government Services Minister Harinder Takhar, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Lenny K. Saith, Singapore’s Community Development Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Mauritius Education Minister Vasant K. Bunwaree.
The event, which coincides with the date (9 January) on which Mahatma Gandhi returned to his native land from South Africa, has been organized every year since 2003 by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).