3rd Mini-Pravasi Bhartiya Divas concludes in Hague

Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India
24 September 2009

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=52809

The third regional Mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Hague to bring together members of the Indian Diaspora in Europe at a common platform to discuss their role in enhancing Indo-European cooperation in the fields of culture, heritage and tradition and explore the Indo-European Trade and Investment opportunities. The event was held in partnership with the Municipality of the Hague and with the active support of Indo-Dutch organizations in the Netherlands. 535 people, including 405 registered delegates, besides 24 speakers, 30 invited guests and 40 media personnel participated in the event.

In his address, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs emphasized the resilience of the Indian economy and said that India offered immense opportunities to PIOs/NRIs in Europe in all fields. He also outlined the competitive business environment and investment climate obtaining in different states and said that OIFC has been set up by MOIA in PPP mode with CII to facilitate investments and business by the overseas Indian community. He promised to take up the demand for setting up of a Cultural Centre in the Netherlands.

Prof. Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch Prime Minister and the Chief Guest, brought out how the international focus has shifted from independence and sovereignty of states to inter-dependence of states and said that India has a significant role to play in a multi-polar world and that the Indian Diaspora could play a vitalcal role in connecting civilizations. Mr. Jan Piet Hein Donner, Dutch Minister for Social Affairs and Employment and the Guest of Honour, emphasized how the Netherlands could act as a bridge between India and Europe and said that in response to the persistent demands from the resident Indian community in the Netherlands, a Social Security Agreement would soon be signed between the two countries.