Odisha Gears Up to Honor the Contributions of the Indian Diaspora to 'Viksit Bharat'

New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) Numerous large delegations from the Indian diaspora hailing from various countries are set to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, which kicks off with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar, beginning this Wednesday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reported that participants from over 50 nations have registered for the PBD Convention, a premier event organized by the Indian government aimed at fostering connections and engagements among the diaspora, allowing them to interact with one another.

For the first time, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is hosted in Odisha, where the state has meticulously planned to highlight its rich historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage.

On Wednesday, the Odisha government will organize two plenary sessions titled 'Unraveling India's Best Kept Secret' and 'Odisha, a Land of Opportunities', featuring speeches from prominent figures including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, along with several other dignitaries.

MEA Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee stated on Tuesday, 'This will demonstrate the vast potential that the Indian diaspora can harness in Odisha through their active involvement in sectors like tourism, trade, investments, textiles, forest products, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and startups.'

The theme of this year's PBD Convention is 'Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat', and it will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The event will also feature a virtual address from the Chief Guest, Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the inauguration, PM Modi will remotely launch the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designated for the Indian diaspora, which will commence its journey from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, traversing various destinations of cultural and religious significance across India over the course of three weeks.

Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate four exhibitions at the convention, including 'Vishwaroop Ram - The Universal Legacy of Ramayana', 'Diaspora's Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat', 'Spread and Evolution of Indian Diaspora in the World with a Special Focus on Mandvi to Muscat', and 'Heritage and Culture of Odisha'.

On January 10, President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session of the convention, during which 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025' will be presented to 27 esteemed members of the Indian diaspora from 24 countries, honoring their remarkable achievements and contributions in various fields both in India and internationally.

The event will feature five thematic plenary sessions, including panel discussions with distinguished diaspora experts. The scheduled sessions are: 'Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized 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'.

The previous 17th PBD Convention took place in 2023 in Indore, in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state government.