New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Nearly 1,500 delegates are expected to participate in the eighth annual jamboree of overseas Indians, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Jan 7-9, the government said Wednesday.
With a number of new features, it will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Jan 8, while President Pratibha Patil will deliver the valedictory address and distribute the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards Jan 9.

“We already have over 520 people from 40 countries registered with us. But we expect the number of delegates to cross over a thousand, with the final number to be nearer 1,500,” Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told reporters at a press conference here.

PBD will also see participation from seven foreign ministers of Indian origin.

A day before the formal inauguration, important pre-conference seminars will be held on nanotechnology and property-related matters of overseas Indians.

The Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council will also meet at 7, Race Course Road on the evening of Jan 7. The council has 20 eminent people of Indian origin, including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, economist Jagdish Bhagwati, industrialist L.N. Mittal and Pepsico chairman Indra Nooyi.

A new feature to be introduced at PBD 2010 is an annual lecture series by a prominent overseas Indian. It will be launched by Bhagwati, who will deliver a talk on “India: the role of Diaspora” Jan 8.

For the first time, PBD will be webcast live on the ministry’s website (www.moia.gov.in), as well as the website of the official e-magazine, Pravasi Bharatiya (www.overseasindian.in).

There will be plenary sessions where delegates from across the world will be able to interact with cabinet ministers. Around 14 chief ministers will also be participating in PBD to woo investment from overseas Indians to their states.

-

dm/pg/jg