Thaindian News

Toronto, June 10 (IANS) Calling the Indian diaspora its bridge of friendship to the world, India Thursday invited the million-strong Indo-Canadian community to become a part of its success story.

Speaking at the opening of the fifth regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at a gala dinner here, Preneet Kaur, India’s minister of state for external affairs, said the Indian diaspora has become “an important partner for India’s prosperity” by sending remittances back home, making investments, transferring technical knowhow, and projecting India’s soft power by popularizing its culture, films and dance.

And India is thankful for their services and the creation of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Indian Community Welfare Fund as well as the introduction of the PIO/OCI cards were an acknowledgement of their contribution, she said.

Referring to the fast growing India-Canada ties, she said the two prime ministers have nurtured the relationship a new level.

“We have already signed the historic civil nuclear agreement. In the near future, India and Canada will sign the social security agreement, conclude a bilateral investment protection agreement and complete an ambitious comprehensive economic partnership agreement.”

Seeking Canadian partnership in India’s development, she said, “India-Canada ties are developing at a time of enormous opportunities in india. We need $1 trillion in the infrastructure sector over the next decade and foreign investment (and trade) will continue to be an integral part of our growth.”

Greeting the gathering with ‘Namaste,’ Canadian governor general David Johnston lauded the role of the community in nation building and promoting ties with India.

Concluding his speech with “dhanyabad”, the governor general said that by 2017 - when Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary - the Indian diaspora will become one of the strongest groups in Canada, and “their contribution will be so important in our success.”

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty lauded the diaspora success by quoting prime minister Manmohan Singh who once said that ‘the sun never sets on the Indian diaspora.’

Indian High Commissioner S.M. Gavai said India was showing its appreciation of the Indo-Canadian diaspora by holding the PBD in Toronto.

Bollywood singer Shivani Kashyap regaled the audience with her hit songs.

Valayar Ravi, minister of overseas Indian affairs, and three other ministers couldn’t come for the meet attended by about 500 delegates. ‘Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for the Indian Diaspora’ is the theme of the two-day event.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)