NYC to play host to first Pravasi Divas outside India

New York, Sep 9 (UNI) The first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas outside India will be held here on September 23.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be among the prominent speakers, according to information available here.

Titled ''Engaging the Diaspora: The way forward,'' the one-day conference scheduled for September 23 is part of a week-long celebrations known as ''India at 60.'' Organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the event is being billed as the first international Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

''Ranging from education and health to investment and infrastructure, the day's sessions will showcase eminent speakers who are instrumental in creating a place for India on the global map today,'' a statement released by the organisers said.

The programme will conclude with the performance of several Indian classical dances at the prestigious Lincoln Center.

Mr Mukherjee will be in New York as part of his UN visit during which he will address the General Assembly. For the second successive year, he will be leading the Indian delegation as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is unlikely to address the world body again this year. Dr Singh did not visit the United Nations last year.

Besides Mr Mukherjee, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, Secretary in the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry Nirmal Singh and Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen are the scheduled speakers.

Sam Pitroda, CK Prahalad, Sunil Bharti Mittal and Nandan M Nilekani are other prominent people scheduled to be present on the occasion.

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, based in the US state of Connecticut, is among the organisers of the event. The body, known as GOPIO, is headed by its Chairman Thomas Abraham, who will be present at the PBD New York 2007 event.

In India, Pravasi Divas is held usually in the month of January.

New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have so far played host to the event.

UNI