Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
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Consulate
General of India Vancouver
Press
Release
The
7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention would be held at
the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai on 07-09 January 2009. It is being
organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with
the Government of Tamil Nadu. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
would be the institutional partner.
It would be the first PBD Convention organised in Chennai.
PBD Conventions provide
a platform for exchange of views and networking to the Persons of Indian
Origin on matters of common interest. These Conventions assist the
Government of India to better understand the expectations of the
Overseas Indians from the land of their ancestors and to acknowledge
their role in India’s all round development and its efforts to acquire
its rightful place in the comity of nations. Formation of a separate
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in 2004 is a testimony to the
importance attached by the Government of India towards the well-being of
the persons of Indian Origin and their close affinity with India.
Decisions taken by the
Government of India as a result of wider consultations held at such
Conventions include formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India
Scheme, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre,
conceptualisation of a PIO University, formation of Prime Minister’s
Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, and setting up of an
India Development Foundation.
Programmes e.g. Know India Programme and Scholarship Programme
for Diaspora Children are designed specifically for Diaspora youth.
The following would be
the Highlights of the 7th PBD: ·
Focus
on issues of interest to Overseas Indians and their role in India’s
emergence as a global power. Topics for discussion include “Indian
Diaspora: Preservation of Language and Culture”, “Health Concerns of
Indian Diaspora”, “Role
of Diaspora Youth in the 21st Century India”, and “India
As An Emerging Power: The Diaspora Factor”. ·
Separate
Regional Working Sessions on Diaspora in the Gulf, Asia-Pacific, Africa,
USA, Europe, Caribbean and Canada. ·
Building-the-Bridges
Sessions on ‘Trade & Industry’, ‘Culture &
Entertainment’, ‘Education’ and ‘Philanthropy’. ·
Sessions
with State governments on “Need for having a response mechanism for
the Indian Diaspora”. ·
A
Trade and Industry Exhibition with participation from Corporate,
Financial Institutions, State Governments, NGOs and others. ·
OIFC
Market Place ·
Optional
Tour Programmes to Tirupati, Puducherry, Mamallapuram
(Mahabalipuram) and others
The Convention would be
inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 8th January.
President of India would deliver the valedictory address on 9th
January. She would also confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for 2009.
A website www.pbdindia.org
being launched on 21st August, 2008 would provide further
details and open the registration.
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