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Bhubaneswar:8/1/25:: The three-day 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention kicked off to a flying start at the Bhubaneswar Janata Maidan on Wednesday. The convention was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Minister for External Affairs (MEA) S Jaishankar, and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandavya who lighted the ceremonial lamp at the beginning of the inaugural session ‘Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’
The convention began with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event being organised by the Odisha government in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The other sessions on Wednesday include the Plenary Session I – Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World and ‘Joint Business Session between MEA and Odisha’
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Addressing the Indian diaspora at the event, Jaishankar said, “Let me take the opportunity to urge you on behalf of Prime Minister Modi to promote India as a tourism destination. If young Indian PIOs bring their equally young friends from abroad to explore our uniquely rich and diverse heritage and culture, this will surely become a lifelong habit.”
Jaishankar said it is critical to invest in youths to achieve their full potential, as he highlighted various campaigns and programmes to develop India undertaken since 2014 under the leadership of PM Modi.
“Whether it is Swacch Bharat or Beti Padhao, Awas or Anna Yojana, Mudra or Swanidhi, Ayushman Bharat or Jal Jeevan, each one of them has been a transformational effort. However, if you were to see them in their entirety, connecting those dots will give you an appreciation of how we are securing the future of our youth. They will help bring their skills and creativity to the fore, ensuring that India’s talents are fully available to the global workplace,” the minister asserted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the inaugural session on Thursday, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session on Friday. Murmu will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman upon members of the Indian diaspora to recognise their achievements in various fields.
PM Modi will also remotely flag off the inaugural Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the diaspora, which will depart from the Nizamuddin station in Delhi and travel to multiple destinations for three weeks.
He will also inaugurate four exhibitions at the convention — on the legacy of Ramayana, the diaspora’s contribution to technology and ‘Viksit Bharat’, the evolution of the Indian diaspora with a focus on ‘Mandvi to Muscat’, and the heritage and culture of Odisha.
The convention will have five thematic plenary sessions, such as ‘Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalised World’, ‘Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills’, ‘Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development’,
‘Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti’, and ‘Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness’.
Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo is the chief guest of this edition, which is being held on the theme ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’. She will address the convention virtually.
The organisers have selected 21 destinations in Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Jajpur have been selected for the visit of the delegates. Around delegates are expected to attend the convention.
MEA, Odisha Business Session
A joint business session by the Ministry of External Affairs and Government of Odisha was organised on the sidelines of the event to showcase the investment potential of the state. The Union Minister and the state government oƯicial pitched for collaborative efforts to convert the vast natural resources of Odisha into sustainable development and wealth creation.
Addressing the potential investors and the diaspora, Minister, EA, Dr. Jaishankar said “We want to give you the message of the double engine government. India will consider the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) as its partners to promote Odisha and its vast potential to drive growth and generate employment.”
Odisha’s 480 km long coastline and natural deep-water ports facing the Southeast Asian nations pose a promising opportunity for high-volume trade and investment collaboration with the Southeast Asian nations.
“I see India’s eastern seabed as the connector for Southeast Asia with India,” added Jaishankar stressing the business expansion opportunities in sectors like trade and tourism in Odisha.
Odisha CM Majhi said that his government has received a Rs 2.2 lakh crore investment proposal since its formation in June 2024 and has been able to get a commitment of Rs 40,000 crore investment in infrastructure development proposal from the Union Government, while appealing to the visiting diaspora to participate in the growth journey of the state.
Majhi said that on the eve of the observance of the 100th anniversary of state formation in 2036, Odisha aspires to become a $1 trillion economy as part of its vision of Samruddh Odisha For Viksit Bharat. “Our vision is to make Odisha a key driver of India’s economic growth emphasising the state’s focus on sustainable development and global partnership. As India has become the number one destination in terms of FDI (foreign direct investment), I would like to make Odisha the number one state in terms of attracting FDI,” he added.
Principal Secretary, Industries Department, GoO Hemant Sharma shared a presentation amongst the business leaders expecting, the conversation to take the shape of a business proposition soon.
