Indian diaspora’s role to grow as India moves towards Viksit Bharat by 2047: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Wednesday that the Indian diaspora's role will become increasingly vital as India strives to achieve its goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Jaishankar made the remarks at the launch of the website for the 19th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, which will be held in Kolkata from January 7 to 9 next year.

The Convention, an annual government event, offers a crucial platform for engaging with India's 37-million-strong diaspora worldwide. The PBD Convention's theme for the upcoming gathering, "Return to Roots: Reigniting the diaspora connect with Bharat," aims to create opportunities for overseas Indians to deepen their engagement with contemporary India.

Jaishankar emphasized that the diaspora's expertise, technological capabilities, global networks, and entrepreneurial spirit will contribute significantly to India's growth and development. Kolkata, with its rich history as a port of embarkation for thousands of indentured laborers sent to various countries, played a pivotal role in establishing a global Indian presence.

The Convention will focus on youth engagement, business opportunities, women's entrepreneurship, and reconnecting with India's culture and knowledge traditions. The three-day event will commence with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event, and President Droupadi Murmu presiding over the valedictory session, where the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will be conferred to recognize the contributions of members of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India's global engagement.