External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said the Indian diaspora would play an increasingly important role in achieving the country's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, with its knowledge, entrepreneurial capabilities, technological expertise and global networks contributing significantly to India's development.
Speaking at the launch of the website for the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, Jaishankar said India's growing economic opportunities and expanding global engagement would create new avenues for overseas Indians to collaborate with their country of origin.
The three-day convention will be held in Kolkata from January 7 to 9, 2027, bringing together members of the Indian diaspora from across the world.
The event serves as the government's flagship platform for engagement with the approximately 37-million-strong Indian diaspora.
Jaishankar said the country's development trajectory would offer overseas Indians greater opportunities to reconnect with India and contribute to its progress.
"As India moves forward towards the vision which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid out of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the role of our diaspora will be increasingly important," he said.
The minister emphasised that overseas Indians possessed valuable expertise and international connections that could contribute to the country's economic and technological advancement.
๐๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The upcoming convention will be organised around the theme "Return to Roots: Reigniting the diaspora connect with Bharat", with a particular focus on encouraging younger generations of overseas Indians to strengthen their relationship with contemporary India.
Jaishankar highlighted Kolkata's historical significance in the evolution of the Indian diaspora, recalling how generations of Indians had departed from the city for destinations including Mauritius, Fiji and the Caribbean.
He said these journeys, often marked by considerable hardship and sacrifice, had helped establish Indian communities across different parts of the world.
The choice of Kolkata as the host city is intended to acknowledge this historical connection while encouraging renewed engagement between India and its overseas communities.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต, ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the convention would focus on youth engagement, business opportunities, women's entrepreneurship and reconnecting overseas Indians with the country's cultural and knowledge traditions.
The programme will also commemorate Kolkata's historical role as a major departure point for thousands of indentured labourers who travelled to different countries.
A dedicated conference and exhibition will explore this history and its contribution to the development of Indian communities overseas.
The convention will begin with Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is intended to encourage younger members of the diaspora to participate in India's development and strengthen cultural connections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main convention, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session.
The President will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, recognising distinguished members of the Indian diaspora for their contributions and their role in strengthening India's engagement with the international community.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed on January 9 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa on that date in 1915.
The government views the convention as an important platform for strengthening relationships with overseas Indians and expanding their participation in India's economic, cultural and developmental initiatives.