GOPIO NEWS SPECIAL BULLETIN

December , 2002

CONTENTS
1. Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, January 9-11, 2003

2. GOPIO Convention in New Delhi, January 8^th, 2003

3. GOPIO Chapter news

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIWAS, Jan. 9-11, 2003

AN EXQUISITE GATHERING OF PERSONS OF INDIAN HERITAGE

'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: India's Interface with its Diaspora

Representatives of an estimated 20 million Indians abroad spread over 110 countries will meet in New Delhi on January nine to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' which would be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyaee. January nine has been chosen for the occasion as it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi had returned to India from South Africa to lead the country's freedom struggle.
India is rolling out a red carpet for its expatriates to celebrate the success of the 20 million Non Resident Indians (NRI's) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). The government of India is organizing the first-ever conference in New Delhi on January 9, 10 and 11, 2003. The government has teamed with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to help organize the event.

Attending this conference is a great opportunity to explore business opportunities in India or abroad, networking with government officials or other NRI's, or simply to have a great time and fun. The Indian Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and their senior colleagues will be there as will be top civil service official. But that is just the start. There will be business executives, Nobel laureates and a gallery of entertainment legends.
On the second and third day of the conference, several breakout sessions have been planned. They cover areas such as Information Technology, Science & Technology, Health Care, Hospitality and Tourism, Financial Services, etc. Another session which could be of much interest to Indian Americans is entitled "Opportunities in Defense and Homeland Security R&D".

The 20 million strong Indian community has done well for itself accounting for an economic output of over $400 billion through hard work and ingenuity. Those attending the New Delhi conference will have a huge opportunity to network amongst themselves in areas of mutual interests. The conference planners are providing a mechanism to help make this happen. Registration fee is $200 for adults. Students get a 50% discount. To get more information, log on to http://www.indiaday.org. The website has a registration form. Contact points: indiaday@indiaday.org or indiandiaspora@ficci.com.

Most of all, this conference provide NRIs/PIOs with a tremendous opportunity to "reconnect" with their Motherland.

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has extended it support to make the conference a success. GOPIO was formed at such a conference in New York in 1989 where 3,000 NRI/PIO delegates from 32 countries participated.

Contact: FICCI, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi; Tel: (91) 11 - 3738760, E-mail: indiaday@indiaday.org

GOPIO CONFERENCE IN NEW DELHI, January 8, 2003

In conjunction with Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, the Global Organization of people of Indian Origin (GOPIO) is organizing a day-long conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, January 8, 2003. The conference will have presentations on the perspectives and issues of NRI/PIO communities from each PIO populated country. Program details and invitation are provided below:

GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN (GOPIO)

invites you to a

a day long conference on

"PERSPECTIVES AND ISSUES OF NRI/PIO COMMUNITIES"

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIWAS

Place: FICCI Auditorium, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi, India

Date and Time: Wednesday, January 8^th, 2002, 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Program

9.00 to 10 a.m. Registration and Coffee/Tea

10.00 to 10.50 a.m. Inaugural Session

Greetings Dr. Jagat Motwani, International Coordinator, GOPIO

Welcome Dr. Thomas Abraham, President, GOPIO International

Inaugural Address Honorable Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Chairman, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, New Delhi, India

Address Honorable Lord Dr. Bhikhu Parekh, London, UK

Address Honorable Mahendra Choudhry, Former Prime Minister, Fiji

10.50 to 11.15 a.m. Coffee/Tea Break

11.15 a.m. to 12.40 p.m. Country Reports from Europe

Moderator TBD

Report from U.K. Dr. K.N. Malik, Author and Journalist, London, UK

Report from Belgium Sunil Prasad, President, GOPIO Belgium

Report from Germany Dwarkesh Shah, Former GOPIO Secretary General and Coordinator for Germany

Report from The Netherlands Dr. H.U. Quereshi, GOPIO Coordinator, The Netherlands

Report from Switzerland J.H. Makwana, GOPIO Executive Vice President, Zurich, Switzerland

12.40 p.m. to 1.50 p.m. Lunch

1.50 p.m. to 3.20 p.m. Country Reports from Americas and Caribbean Countries

Moderator Ashook Ramsaran, GOPIO Secretary General, New York, USA

Report from USA Inder Singh, GOPIO President-Elect, California, USA

Report from Guyana and Trinidad Yesu Persaud, GOPIO Regional VP for Caribbean Region, Georgetown, Guyana

Report from Jamaica Prof. Ajai Mansingh, Univ. of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica

Report from Canada - TBD

3.20 p.m. to 3.40 p.m. Coffee/Tea Break

3.40 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Country Reports from Africa, Asia and Far East

Moderator - TBD

Report form South Africa Sagie Naidu, President, GOPIO South Africa

Report from Mauritius Deven Maulloo, General Manger, Motion Film, Development Corp., Mauritius

Report from Singapore Nitin Doshi, Former Chairman, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce, Singapore

Report from Fiji Dr. Ganesh Chand, Former Minister for National Planning, Housing and Environment, Fiji

5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Conclusions and Resolutions

Chaired by Ram Lakhina, GOPIO Chairman

5.30 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. - Reception

To register please send an e-mail to gopio@optonline.net with name, affiliation, address, tel. and fax and contact phone in New Delhi (if any).

GOPIO has been providing a common platform for people of Indian origin since its inception in 1989. For more information or to register for the conference, please contact: GOPIO, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA, Tel: 203-329-8010 or Fax 203-/322-2233. E-mail: gopio@optonline.net, or visit www.gopio.net

GOPIO Chapter News

GOPIO Washington, DC Chapter

The chapter has been initiated. Chapter membership fee is $50 yearly, $250 Life Membership to chapter and $1,000 Life membership to Chapter and GOPIO International. Contact: Dr. Renuka Misra at 301-695-9225.

GOPIO Chapter Initiation

 One can initiate a chapter and become part of this global network of people of Indian origin by visiting GOPIOs Chapter Initiative website www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm to get a copy of the guidelines governing GOPIO chapters. Alternately, call GOPIOs International coordinator Dr. Jagat Motwani at 631-421-4688 in USA.

Business and Professional Services Bulletin Board

 PIOs are encouraged to publicize businesses and services though GOPIO Business Council Bulletin Board free of charge. Please visit www.gopio.net/wboard/bulletin.htm

Visit GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net