New Delhi, Dec.23 (ANI): The eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (non-resident Indians Day) would see over 1,500 delegates of Indian origin attending the event, said Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian affairs on Wednesday.

Besides, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention will be held in the national capital from January 7-9, 2010, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally inaugurating the event.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory address and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2010 on distinguished PIOs (Persons of Indian origin) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) on January 9.

Also, 14 chief ministers and seven ministers in foreign governments of Indian origin will attend the convention.

“So far 520 persons have been registered from abroad, from 40 countries, almost. Now there are some people… there will be 50 or 100, this kind of groups also expected to come and we are expecting it will cross 1000, more than 1000 and total delegates will be 1,500 including some institutes in India,” Ravi told media.

Meanwhile, a number of new features have been added to Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2010.

As per the scheduled programme, Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University, will deliver a lecture on ‘India: the role of Diaspora’ on January 8.

Two Seminars on ‘Nanotechnology’ and on ‘Property-rated issues of the overseas Indian community’ are also being held as pre-conference events.

Further, the PBD will be webcast live on the ministry’s website and in the website of the official e-magazine.

Delegates from across the world will get the opportunity to interact with cabinet ministers during a plenary session.

The Pravasi Bhartiya summit is held on January 9 every year, to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, from South Africa on this day in 1915. (ANI)