GOPIO Convention 2011 - Iselin, New Jersey, USA

November 18 - 20, 2011

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) is holding its Bi- Convention 2011 in Iselin, New Jersey, USA from November 18 - 20, 2011. Everyone is invited to participate. The venue is the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin, New Jersey, USA.

GOPIO's conference on November 19, 2011 will evaluate, assess, debate, discuss and deliberate on the current, critical issues of interest and concern that confront persons of Indian origin of more than 25 million people living in many countries outside of India. The overall theme is "Issues and Concerns of the Indian Diaspora" and will examine issues of: Consular services, property, taxation and related issues; Consular Services, Property, Taxation & Foreign Accounts Disclosures; issues related to health, women and youth; the Kolkata Memorial and Indian Migration; Technology, Business and Entrepreneurship; challenges and opportunities for political and economic empowerment and successful adaptation in adopted countries.

The program will start with an evening Inaugural Reception Dinner on Friday, November 18 starting at 6:00pm at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin, New Jersey. Then conferences will be held on Saturday, November 19 followed by an elaborate Reception and Convention Banquet that evening that are expect to be well attended.

As in previous GOPIO international events, many prominent persons have attended as special guests. These included present and former presidents (Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo), prime ministers (former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry of Fiji and former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad & Tobago), ministers (Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi) and other government officials at various levels and from many countries. Notable and prominent VIPs from the global Indian community are expected to attend this year as well.

A memorable colorful souvenir brochure for this occasion is being published and will be distributed free of charge to all our Corporate and Personal sponsors, Participants, Government agencies, members and guests.

GOPIO, since its inception in 1989, has been creating awareness and promoting understanding of issues of concern -- social, cultural, educational, economic, or political - of the NRI/PIO communities around the globe. GOPIO also provides an active and well recognized platform for dialogue and discussion to the worldwide Indian Diaspora and to further advance that objective, GOPIO has been at the forefront to network the globally spread overseas Indian community by regularly organizing conferences in various parts of the world. During the last five years alone, GOPIO has organized ten international conferences, both in India and overseas. GOPIO recognizes that NRIs/PIOs have contributed significantly to the countries of their settlement and adoption and have added a special glitter to the resurgence of India. GOPIO conferences and conventions help bring the Indian Diaspora closer to mother India and strengthen the inherent bond between India and its diaspora.

Program Outline

Friday, November 18, 2011

11:00am          GOPIO Executive Meeting (Not Open to the Public)

2:00pm            GOPIO General Council Meeting:

Country, Chapter and Council Reports (Open to the Public)

6:00pm            Reception & Dinner

Saturday, November 19, 2011

9:00am            GOPIO General Council Meeting

10:00am          Session I: (Inaugural Session) Issues and Concerns of the Indian Diaspora

11:00am          Session IIA: Consular Services, Property, Taxation &

                                               Foreign Accounts Disclosures

                        Session IIB: Kolkata Memorial - Indian Migration

1:30pm            Session IIIA: Health, Nutrition & Wellness for the Indian Diaspora

                        Session IIIB: Challenges & Opportunities for Political Empowerment

  Toward Successful Adaptation in Adopted Countries

3:15pm            Session IVA: Issues of Abuses, Inter-Generations & Women

 Session IVB: Road to Entrepreneurship: How to Leverage Diaspora Networks to Jump Start New Ventures

4:45pm            Session V: Conclusions, Resolutions

Sunday, November 20, 2011

10:00am          GOPIO Executive Committee & General Council Meetings

Speakers: Qualified speakers are invited to contact Conference Program Chairperson Ashook Ramsaran at ramsaran@aol.com (tel +1- 917-519-5783).