Georgetown: President Donald Ramotar is to be presented with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (PBD), the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians and people of Indian origin
The chief guest of the 13th PBD will gather at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the convention venue in Gujarat’s capital which is all decked out to welcome the Indian Diaspora, who are arriving in hundreds from countries across the world.
The annual jamboree is hosted by India for its natives abroad. The PBD is being held in Gandhinagar on January 7-9 to mark the centenary of the return to the country of India’s “Sarva Sreshtha Pravasi Bharatiya” or foremost Indian diaspora member, Mahatma Gandhi, from South Africa.
South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is also attending the PBD as part of the commemoratory events to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa 100 years ago.
PBD is the world’s largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at enhancing networking and reinforcing commercial linkages. There are an estimated 25 million people of Indian origin residing outside India.
India is also the single largest recipient of remittances from abroad at US$70 billion, The bridges across Sabarmati River and riverfront in Ahmedabad and Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar have been festooned with decorative electrical lighting and the twin cities spruced up to welcome the delegates. Around 3000 Indian Diaspora delegates are expected to attend, officials said.
With the PBD to be followed by the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2015 on January 11-13, each being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several world political and business leaders, a tight security net has been thrown across Gandhinagar as well as Ahmedabad, 27 kilometres away, where some of the events are to be held.
The event kicks off today with the Youth PBD, which is to be inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also Minister for Overseas Indian affairs. American astronaut Sunita Williams, who is of Gujarati origin, is expected to attend the Youth PBD. Modi will inaugurate the official part of the two-day session on January 8. Vice President Hamid Ansari would be present at the closing ceremony on January 9 and present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
You must be logged in to post a comment.