Prez woos diaspora to invest in India

New Delhi, Jan 11: The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ended on a positive and promising note, with the President Pratibha Patil presenting a 500 million dollar opportunity in infrastructure development to over 1500 Indians from over 50 countries.

“In the social infrastructure sector as also physical infrastructure development, India is looking at investment increasingly in the public-private partnership model," the president said while speaking at the valedictory Session of the the eight PBD, which focused on investment, knowledge, philanthropy and skills.

“There is immense capacity that you have both in talent and in financial terms, that can be invested in India. We hope to see your greater participation in the coming years in the development of India. This is a time to forge strong partnerships. I have no doubt that together we can walk the path of progress and make India a strong nation" she added.

Besides urging the delegates to be a reponsible citizen in the 'incresingly inter-connected world', President Patil spoke on the India's growth amid the global slump as an absorbing and an exciting one.

"In the post-crisis world, India is increasingly perceived as one of the principal engines of growth, a safe destination for investment and an emerging educational and technological hub," she said.

She, further acknowledged the 50 billion dollar remittances from the Indian diaspora, and saluted the Indians working abroad, especially those in Gulf.

"Overseas Indians have come to be recognized as the 'Knowledge Diaspora'. The knowledge, expertise, skills and resources of this vast and diverse Indian community can be an important input in India's march to becoming a developed country", she stated.

Fourteen distinguished overseas Indians from different spheres were also conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.

Seven awardees were from the field of Community service, three from Public Service, three from Medicine and one from business had the honour of receiving the award from the president.

OneIndia News