Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the annual flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) which aims to connect more 25 Million Indians with India's Economic and Social development.  The Ministry is organizing Seventh edition of the PBD on 7-9 January, 2009 in Chennai, the South Indian city in Tamilnadu. The role of overseas Indians in the country's emergence as a global power will be the main theme. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil will address the concluding session of the three-day meet.
 
During the annual meet, the Diaspora's role in India's emergence as a global power will be the focus of deliberations. The congregation of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) will also dwell upon aspects like preservation of language and culture and health concerns of Indian Diaspora. Regional working sessions of the Diaspora residing in the Gulf, Asia-Pacific, Africa, USA, Europe, Caribbean and Canada will be organized.
 
A special trade and industry exhibition during the event with corporate, state governments, NGOs and financial institutions as participants will also be held as part of the convention, an official statement said.
 
Early this year, more than 1,500 participants from 50 countries had attended the PBD 2008 meet.
 
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2009 
January 7-9, 2009
 
THEME - ENGAGING THE INDIAN DIASPORA - The way Forward
 
The seventh PBD is also projected as a platform where issues of social concern of regional diaspora groups could be discussed in details. There will be parallel sessions of different regions - such as Gulf and the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, USA etc - where there is significant Indian presence.
 
The Indian Diaspora estimated at over 25 million is rapidly scaling up its professional achievements, income levels, and influence. The role of the Diaspora extends beyond its country of residence to the country of origin, and to building strong linkages between the two and the rest of the world. The emergence of India as a world power would also depend in considerable measure on the contributions of the Diaspora and its role in global affairs.
 
PBD 09 seeks to identify ways in which the Diaspora can partner in India's development. How can the Diaspora and India build synergy for mutually beneficial ventures? This session will evolve ways to help deepen and strengthen the Diaspora engagement within itself, with India, and with the rest of the world to become a potent force in shaping India's emerging role on the world stage.
 
OVERVIEW

The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention provides a much needed platform to the Overseas Indian Community for exchange of views on ways and means to fulfill their aspirations and expectations from the land of their ancestors. It also provides opportunities for exploring mutually beneficial trade & business relationships and for networking among the community. Celebration of the day every year symbolizes the continued interest of the government of India in the progress and well-being of the Overseas Indian Community.

The formation of a separate Ministry to look into the affairs of Overseas Indians has sent across a positive signal vis-a-vis the importance India attaches to its diaspora. Various steps taken by the Ministry have further strengthened the already strong traditional cultural ties of the togetherness that the Indian Community has with the land of their forefathers.
 
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2009 - Theme: Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward
 
The 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is scheduled to be held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai from 07-09 January 2009. Organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the State Government of Tamil Nadu and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it would be the first PBD Convention organized in Chennai.

PBD Conventions provide a platform for exchange of views and networking to the Persons of Indian Origin settled all over the world on matters of common interest. Such Conventions have helped the Government to better understand the expectations of the Overseas Indian Community from the land of their ancestors and acknowledge the important role played by it In India's efforts to acquire its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Among the decisions taken by the Government of India as a result of wider consultations held at these Conventions, are formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, Conceptualisation of PIO University, formation of Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, and the proposed India Development Foundation. A series of Programs e.g. Know India Program and Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children are also designed specifically for Diaspora youth.

Among other things, the 7th PBD Convention would have sessions on the preservation of Diaspora language and culture and the importance of Diaspora as facilitators and bridge builders. The highlights of PBD 2009 include an Exhibition on Trade & Industry, live demonstrations by craftsmen, cultural evenings and post convention tours.

The Convention would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 8th January. The President of India would deliver the valedictory address and also confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for 2009 on 9th January. 
 
REGISTRATION OPEN
  
The online Registration for PBD-2009 is now open through the website www.pbdindia.org or go directly to the registration page To register, visit:
http://www.pbdindia.org/registration/registration.aspx
 
The MOIA ministry official in a communiqué has suggested to those who want participate to register early to avoid any inconvenience related to accommodation and other arrangement at a much later date.
 
Contact: N. Balasubramaniyan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India, Akbar Bhawan, Chankyapuri, New Delhi - 110021, Tel: + 91-11-24197910, Fax: + 91-11-24197942, Website: www.moia.gov.in or Madhu Pillai, Director, Confederation of Indian Industry, The Mantosh Sondhi Centre, 23, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003, Tel: + 91-11-24629994 - 7, Fax: + 91-11-24601298, Email: pbd2009@ciionline.org.
 
PAINTER SURAJ SADAN TO EXHIBIT AT PBD2009
 
Fine artist Suraj Sadan from Montreal (Canada) will display his paintings with a theme "Words and Images of Mahatma Gandhi" at the Arts Exhibition Segment of PBD2009 on January 8th and 9th.
 
Mahatma Gandhi is the favorite subject of international artist Suraj Sadan, a Canadian citizen of Indian origin. An exhibition of his Gandhi drawings and paintings was mounted at Gandhi Museum, near Gandhi Samadhi in Delhi, last month. But India has changed, he says. He found only lukewarm interest in Gandhi and his views, in spite of the "Gandhigiri" fashion introduced by the Munnabhai film. Ever since he met the Mahatma in 1947, at a post partition refugee center at Kingsway Camp in Delhi, he was won over for life. An outstanding portrait painter with dozens of international awards and honors to his credit, Sadan has painted a number of national and international leaders but he has dedicated his life to spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi through his drawings and paintings.