'India for greater engagement of NRI's in development process'

BERLIN: India is seeking a greater engagement of NRI's in the country's development process so as to boost its economic growth and strengthen the bonds of the oversea Indians with their mother nation.

Vayalar Ravi, the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, has expressed optimism that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2008, scheduled to be held in New Delhi next week, would contribute to greater engagement of the diaspora and strengthen their bonds with their country of origin.

The Indian communities around the world have responded with great interest to the plan for holding the annual flagship event by his ministry at the Vigyan Bhavan from January 7 to 9 and pledged their support for the PBD, Ravi told PTI in an interview.

The minister met non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) as well as representatives of various Indian cultural and social organisations in the Scandinavian countries, Germany and Switzerland on the last leg of his campaign to promote the PBD among the diaspora.

The minister, who held a series of meetings in Stockholm, Berlin and Zurich, said he was encouraged by the response from the Indian communities and their interest in the three-day PBD, which will be held under the theme, 'Engaging the Indian Diaspora: the Way Forward'.

The minister conveyed to the Indian diaspora the government's interest in their welfare and in getting them involved in India's economic and social development.

He also informed them on the objectives of the newly-created Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) and how the NRIs and PIOs could benefit from its various programmes and services. The OIFC was set up after the 5th PBD last year in cooperation with the CII to promote NRI's investment in India and facilitate partnerships between Indian companies and those of the diaspora.