PBD exhibition will change world's opinion about India: Swaraj

A mega exhibition organised as part of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was today inaugurated by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who said the exposition showcases India's capability and achievements, and seek to dispel several myths about the country.
"This grand exhibition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas showcases our country's capability. It would open the eyes of all those people across the world who still believe that India is a backward country," she said here this evening.
A trade show has also been organised along with the exhibition by the Gujarat Government. While PBD will end on January 9, the trade show would remain open till January 13, coinciding with the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (Jan 11-13).

Swaraj pointed out that then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee started PBD in 2003, the same year when Narendra Modi organised the first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Summit as Chief Minister.
"Atalji started PBD in 2003 as Prime Minister, while Modiji started Vibrant Summit as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Today, after so many years, both these events are taking place almost simultaneously at one place, because we are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India. There can't be any place better than Gujarat to celebrate it," said Swaraj.
She took a dig at past UPA Governments for not giving permission to hold PBD in Gujarat and credited Prime Minister Modi for brining the event to the State.

"As CM, Modiji made numerous representation to past Governments at the Centre to hold PBD in Gujarat. Now, when we are celebrating it here, Modiji himself is our PM," she said.

Swaraj congratulated Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel for organising both the events here.
In her speech, Patel traced the brief history of Vibrant Summit, a biennial global investor meet which attracts CEOs and industrialists from India and across the world.
"It all started with a humble beginning in 2003. It (the first edition) was organised at Town Hall in Ahmedabad in just 3,000 sq mt of area. Now, we are organising the 7th summit in 1.2 lakh sq meters of area having 1,300 stalls," said Patel.