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President Droupadi Murmu confers the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award to Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during the valedictory session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, as Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar look on, in Indore on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023. ANI Image Credit: ANI

Indore: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Indian diaspora from the Gulf at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Tuesday and praised their role and contribution in taking India’s partnership in the region to a higher level.

Jaishankar stated that the community had also acknowledged the importance that the Indian government had given to the Gulf when he interacted with the diaspora.

“Glad to meet with our enthusiastic community from UAE and Bahrain. Appreciated their contribution in taking India’s partnership in the Gulf to a higher level. They also recognized the greater priority that the Modi Government has accorded to the Gulf,” the External Affairs Minister tweeted.

Indian diaspora from the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain participated in the 3-day convention of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

At the valedictory session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore on Tuesday, Jaishankar said that Indian citizens abroad have an admirable reputation in their respective societies as a result of their contributions, successes, and accomplishments.

“Representing the best of Indian talent and creativity in foreign lands, our diaspora has demonstrated the exceptional quality of dedication, commitment, and perseverance in many fields. Their contributions and achievements and successes have earned them an enviable reputation in their respective societies,” Jaishankar said during the address at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore.

Jaishankar also added that the convention coincides with India’s celebration of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and entry into the Amrit Kaal and that it is time to honour the sacrifices and triumphs of the past as the nation gets ready for its aspirations for the future.

Special place

“Our diaspora brothers and sisters will always have a special place in our hearts, not only as extended family members but as responsible stakeholders in India’s development,” President Droupadi Murmu said during her address at 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

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Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia speaks on the last day of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023. Image Credit: ANI

During the events, Murmu conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.

Reena Vinod Pushkarna from Israel in Business/Community Welfare, Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotan from Japan in Education, Prof. Sanjeev Mehta from Bhutan in Education, Prof. Jagadish Chennupati from Australia Science & Technology/ Education, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from USA in Business/Community Welfare were among many who were to receive awards from President Murmu, according to the official statement of Ministry of External Affairs.

The convention was inaugurated on Tuesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also released a commemorative postal stamp ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’ .

The PM also inaugurated the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle’.The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the Government of India’s flagship event and offers a crucial forum for interaction between the diaspora and Indians living abroad.

The theme of this PBD Convention is ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’. Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 countries registered for the PBD Convention.