PM Modi to address Pravasi Bharatiya Convention, flag off special tourist train for diaspora

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New Delhi [India], January 7 (ANI) – Arun Kumar Chatterjee, the Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs, announced on Tuesday that the Odisha government will host two plenary sessions to showcase the enormous potential that can be harnessed by the Indian Diaspora in Odisha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the convention and remotely flag off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian Diaspora.

The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be celebrated on January 8, with the event being jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. The delegates will hear from key figures such as the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, Honorable Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margarita, and the Guest of Honor, Dev Pragad.

Following the inauguration of the Youth PBD, a plenary session titled “Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World” will take place, chaired by Mansukh Mandaviya. In parallel, the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha and the External Affairs Minister will chair a business session with the business community of the visiting Indian Diaspora.

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The convention will also focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. This will be highlighted in five plenary sessions chaired by Union Ministers and moderated by eminent Indians, showcasing the important role the diaspora plays as a “living bridge” between their motherland and adopted homeland.

On the afternoon of January 8, the Odisha government will host two plenary sessions: “Unraveling India’s Best Kept Secret” and “Odisha: A Land of Opportunities.” These sessions will highlight the state’s potential in tourism, trade, and investment in sectors such as textiles, garments, forest products, healthcare, pharma, food processing, and startups. Delegates will also be given the opportunity to experience Odisha’s rich cultural heritage through visits to various significant sites, along with diverse art forms and cuisines.

On January 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and address the convention. He will also remotely flag off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian Diaspora, which will travel to multiple destinations of touristic and religious importance for a period of three weeks under the Pravasi Bharatiya Tirth Yatra Tirth Darshan Yojana. In addition, PM Modi will inaugurate four exhibitions: “Vishvarup Ram: The Universal Legacy of Ramayana,” “The Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat,” “The Spread and Evolution of Indian Diaspora with Special Focus on Mandvi to Muscat,” and “The Heritage and Culture of Odisha.” Promotional stalls set up by Union ministries, Odisha, and other state governments will showcase India’s development strides over the last decade.

The afternoon of January 9 will also feature two plenary sessions, one titled “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills,” chaired by Shobha Karandlaje, and another titled “Green Connections: Diaspora Contribution to Sustainable Development,” chaired by Ashwini Vaishnav.

On the final day of the convention, January 10, President Droupadi Murmu will chair the valedictory session and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on 27 distinguished members of the Indian Diaspora from 24 countries. Two plenary sessions will precede the valedictory session: “Diaspora Divas Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence: Nari Shakti,” chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and “Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connections, and Belongingness,” chaired by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Cultural performances will be held every evening from January 8-10.

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, marking the first time this convention is hosted in the state. The event will celebrate the vibrancy of the Indian diaspora and their contributions globally. Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, the President of Trinidad and Tobago, will be the Chief Guest, addressing the convention virtually. Ministerial-level delegations from Mauritius, Malaysia, and South Africa, along with large delegations from Oman, Qatar, UAE, UK, and USA, will attend.

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