Odisha to showcase its distinctive art & culture & the business prospects available to Indians living abroad
OdishaPlus Bureau
PBD Odisha is a significant player in the BJP-led NDA government’s Purvodaya initiative. Arun Kumar Chatterjee, the secretary for Consular, Passports & Visa, and Overseas Indian Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that the selection of Bhubaneswar as the venue for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) aligns with this policy. He made these remarks to the media in anticipation of the inauguration of the prominent event scheduled for Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the event on Thursday, while President Droupadi Murmu will be the highlight of the concluding session. The chief guest for the PBD will be Christine Carla Kangaloo, the President of Trinidad and Tobago. Chatterjee emphasized that this event presents a valuable opportunity for the state to highlight its tourism and business potential, which could attract investments. He also noted that the theme for this year’s event is ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to Viksit Bharat’.
The Indian diaspora has become one of the largest contributors to global remittances, currently numbering 35.4 million, which includes 19.5 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 15.8 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). The United States hosts the largest population of PIOs, exceeding 2 million, while the United Arab Emirates has the highest number of NRIs, surpassing 3.5 million.
This event serves as a platform to honor the contributions of the Indian diaspora across various sectors and to present them with opportunities for business and collaboration within India. This year’s program will feature five plenary sessions. It will also allow Odisha to showcase its distinctive art and culture and the business prospects available to Indians living abroad.
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