January 09,2018: Today is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the day is celebrated every year to mark the contribution of overseas Indian community in the development of India. It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9 January 1915.
To forge stronger ties with Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) across the world, the first PIO Parliamentary Conference will be held in Delhi today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the conference at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra. Conference will commence with opening remarks by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.
As many as 124 members of parliament and 17 mayors will participate from 23 countries including UK, USA, South Africa, Canada, Fiji, Kenya, Mauritius, New Zealand, Sri Lanka among others. The biggest delegation will be from Guyana with 20 members of parliament and three mayors. The US delegation will be represented by two mayors as the Senate is in session. The keynote address will be followed by two Thematic Plenary Sessions.
The conference will end with a valedictory session with an address by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. Established in 2003, and sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is held from 7-9 January every year. This year a special regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to commemorate 25 years of partnership between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations Submit (ASEAN) is being held in Singapore. (AIR NEWS)
