Largest delegation from US for diaspora convention

NEW DELHI, November 11 2004
IANS

The largest delegation of 177 members from the US have so far confirmed participation at India's annual convention to connect with its vast diaspora that is scheduled in Mumbai Jan 7-9.

Malaysia follows with 126 members among the 44 countries from where some 475 non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin have registered for the third Pravasi Bharatiya Divas so far, officials said Wednesday.

The delegates include members of the Indian diaspora from countries such as Guadeloupe, Reunion Islands, Zambia, Uzbekistan and the Seychelles, Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler told a press conference here.

He said the response had been overwhelming and that the government intended to conduct the event in a business-like fashion to hear more from the delegates.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will be honouring some prominent members of the diaspora on the last day of the event, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tytler added.

The event is being jointly organised by the central and Maharashtra governments and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Tytler said Jan 9 has been chosen as the day to present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award to coincide with the day Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa.

The government proposed to hold the fourth convention in 2006 in Bangalore so that delegates get to see more new places, he added.

Meanwhile, the government proposes to spell out the functions of the ministry of overseas Indian affairs in a few days.

"The prime minister has just returned from an overseas visit. I will discuss the issue with him soon and we will have the agenda for the new ministry in a couple of days," Tytler said.