London to play host to mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

India has picked London as the host city for the next Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) keeping in mind the size and importance of the Indian Diaspora in the UK.
The smaller-scale mini version of the mega PBD held every January in India will be held here in October this year on a date yet to be finalised, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Ranjan Mathai, announced at India House in London last evening.
He said: "As we work on this event and develop some ideas, the High Commission will meet with members of the community here and take this initiative forward."

One important aspect of these regional events is the business round-table and business-to-business meetings which take place during such conventions, he said.
"The Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre will be a partner for the divas in the UK and will work with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to work on a good business plan," Mathai said.
But all aspects of Diaspora life, EU trade, the role of youth, cooperation in education, culture and skill development will be some of the themes we hope to be able to build on.

"The High Commissioner also unveiled the destination of the annual Indian PBD as Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to mark the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa."

"Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 every year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India and the date was chosen since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa," Mathai said.
"The 2015 event will be celebrated in a particularly grand way as it marks the 100th anniversary of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa," he said.
Meanwhile, over 700 people are expected to participate in the London event in October from all over the UK and also from other countries in Europe.

The convention is aimed at anyone interested in plugging into India's growing relationship with the UK.
The objective is to reach out to those members of the community who have been unable to participate in the annual PBD in India and to provide a platform for the Indian community in the region to contribute to the relationship between countries of the region and India.
In terms of engagement between the UK government and the new Indian government, the High Commissioner made reference to the upcoming visit of UK foreign minister William Hague and finance minister George Osborne to India which is scheduled for July 7 to July 9.

"We are now looking forward to the visit to India jointly by the foreign secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer next week. Their ministerial meetings have been scheduled in India," Mathai said.