Next week in Indore, Narendra Modi will engage in bilateral talks with the Presidents of Guyana and Suriname during the two-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.
Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be the chief guest, with Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the President of Suriname, attending as a special guest. The convention will also honor 27 Indians residing overseas.
The focus of the meeting between the PM and Ali will be on energy, given India’s increasing energy demands and the current crude imports worth $1.5 million from Guyana. Other areas of discussion may include agriculture, ICT, and infrastructure.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will deliver the keynote address at the opening session on January 9. The selection of awardees for their outstanding achievements is based on specific criteria, as reiterated by Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA.
The awards recognize the accomplishments of overseas Indians in various fields such as arts, culture, education, science, technology, and business, along with their contributions to India and their local communities. This criteria has been consistently applied since the inception of the awards in 2003.
The convention has received over 3,500 registrations from 70 countries, with four plenary sessions scheduled on healthcare, soft power, Indian workforce, and women’s issues. The Youth Bharatiya Pravasi Divas on January 8 will also feature sessions hosted by the Madhya Pradesh government.
The valedictory session will feature an address by the President. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and Education Minister are expected to lead some of the plenary sessions.
