Govt. has fulfilled PM Modi's promise to PIO, OCI card holders: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the Government of India has fulfilled the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders in New York and Sydney last year.

"The Government of India in its engagement with its diaspora is willing to walk the talk. It's not only talking but within six months or less since the announcement was made they are also walking that," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media.

"India is a land of opportunities; it is a land where we would invite the entire world to come and invest in and the NRIs in particular," he added.

Akbaruddin further stated that Guyana will become the latest country to avail of the visa-on-arrival status in India.

"The Prime Minister also informed that apart from the 43 countries for whom visa on arrival has already been notified, the 44th country will be Guyana and that notification is now under process," he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi launched the 'Dandi Kutir', a unique exhibition depicting various stages of Mahatma Gandhi's life and work.

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari is scheduled to present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards on January 9.