January 7 - 9, 2008
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
Engaging the Diaspora: the way forward
PROGRAMME
Saturday, 5th January 2008 |
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| 1400 - 2000 hrs : | Registration Venue: Vigyan Bhawan Annexe |
Sunday, 6th January 2008 |
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| 1030 - 2000 hrs : | Registration Venue: Vigyan Bhawan Annexe |
Monday, 7th January 2008 |
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| 1030 - 2000 hrs: 2000 hrs: |
Registration Venue: Vigyan Bhawan Annexe Welcome Reception Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India Venue: Hotel Taj Mahal, 1 Mansingh Road, New Delhi - 110011 |
Tuesday, 8th January 2008 |
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| 1000 - 1045 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
Inaugural Session Lighting of the Lamp Welcome: Nirmal Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Address: Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi Address: Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Address by Chief Guest: Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius Inaugural Address: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India Release of Publications of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs; Launch of Helpline of Overseas Indian Workers and Unveiling of Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra Model Vote of Thanks: Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, Confederation of Indian Industry and Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises, India |
| 1045 - 1200 hrs: | Tea/Coffee Break Distribution of kits |
| 1200-1330 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
PLENARY I Social Development Challenges in India: Health & Education India's much-touted demographic dividend faces serious challenges in the context of human development. PIO organizations have undertaken initiatives in education, health and rural development. GOPIO has adopted 50 villages in India and launched Gopio. connect for interaction of Indian NGOs with PIO. AAPI is commencing work for medical education and connectivity of physicians of Indian origin in America with villages in India. PBD 2007 had recommended establishing a foundation to collect funds for social development. How can existing models of engagement be scaled up? What are the new initiatives that the diaspora can take? How can the Indian government provide institutional support to such partnerships? Moderator: Prof Deepak Nayyar, Member, Knowledge Commission, and former Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, India Keynote Address: Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India Panel: Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre, India Dr. S S Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, India Dr. Hemant Kumar Patel, President, Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, USA Analjit Singh, Chairman, Max India Group of Companies, India Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO Inc., USA Prof Dr. Ruby Pawankar, Nippon Medical School, Japan & Treasurer, Board of Directors, World Allergy Organization; Chair, ARIA-WHO Initiative Asia Pacific Affiliate, Director, Asian Allergy Asthma Association, Japan |
| 1330 - 1430 hrs: | Lunch hosted by Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, Confederation of Indian Industry |
| 1430 - 1545 hrs: (Hall No. 5) |
Concurrent Session 1 Knowledge Economy The Indian diaspora represents a formidable knowledge reservoir for India. In their countries of residence, overseas Indians have been acknowledged as knowledge leaders. The Indian Business School has revealed the success of engagement of overseas Indians in educational and research ventures in India. PBD 2007 had agreed that the NRI community can become India's knowledge partner and recommended that the government establish and institutional mechanism to receive such knowledge. It had also mentioned engaging PIO youth in knowledge creation and sharing of knowledge. The proposed PIO university will actuate such partnerships. How can India’s global knowledge reservoir be tapped and leveraged for mutual benefit? What ideas and talents can overseas Indians bring to the table? Chair: Mr. R R Shah, former Member-Secretary, Planning Commission, Government of India Keynote Address: Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, Government of India Chief Guest: Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India Guest of Honour: Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore Panel: Ravi Seethapathy, Chair, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Canada Dato Vijay Eswaran, Group Managing Director, Qi Group of Companies, Hong Kong Dr Som Mittal, President-designate, NASSCOM, India Mr Vijay K Thadani, Chief Executive Officer, NIIT Ltd |
| 1430 - 1545 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
Concurrent Session 2 Culture India is acquiring a global cultural profile and gaining soft power in the process. Overseas Indians are true ambassadors of India and the promoters of Indian culture in their homelands. Yet in an increasingly complex world, it is getting more and more difficult for them to pass on India's cultural heritage to succeeding generations. The current resonance of Indian movies, fashion, dance and music outside India derives much from engagement with overseas Indian youth. Colleges and universities abroad can benefit from hosting a professorial Chair for India Studies, suggested PBD 2007. How can linkages of overseas Indians with India's culture and traditions be deepened? What are the ways in which diasporic youth can engage with India? What is the role of the Indian government in strengthening such ties? Chair: Kapila Vatsyayan, Former Secretary, Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India Keynote Address: Shashi Tharoor, Writer and former UN under Secretary General Chief Guest: Ambika Soni, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India Guest of Honour: Mahendra Gowressoo, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mauritius Panel: M. J. Warsi, Department of Asian & Near Eastern Languages & Literature, University of Washington, USA Shekhar Kapur, Film Producer & Director, India |
| 1430 - 1545 hrs: (Hall No. 6) |
Concurrent Session 3 Challenges in Women Empowerment and Leadership Women in India are making visible progress, reflected in their participation in grassroots politics at the panchayat level, their involvement in village and community affairs and their empowerment arising from membership of microfinance groups. On the other hand, the dismal gender ratio, the estimated 'missing' female population of 20 million and high maternal-mortality rates point to a continuing lacuna in Indian society. PBD 2007 had highlighted the struggles of Indian brides and female workers in moving overseas, and suggested that a closer network of overseas NGOs with Indian organizations could help alleviate some of these problems. How can society as a whole take up the cudgels on their behalf and empower them? What partnerships will succeed in assisting female Indians working overseas? Moderator: Barkha Dutt, Managing Editor, NDTV 24x7, India Address: Dr Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, India Chief Address: Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Panel: Mallika Sarabhai, Classical Dancer and Social Activist, India Krishna Tirath, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, India Rohini Muthuswami, Coordinator, ASHA, India Brinda Karat, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, India Anu Peshawaria, President, Seva Legal Aid Organization, USA |
| 1545 - 1615 hrs: | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 1615 - 1745 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
PLENARY II Investment & Infrastructure If the Indian economy is to maintain its current growth momentum of 9% plus per annum, it must eradicate existing gaps in transport, communications and power, and lower transaction costs to become globally competitive. It has been estimated that the investment required in infrastructure for the next five years is $475 billion. Investment is also required in the manufacturing sector to meet the employment expectations of 10 million youth entering the workforce each year. Speakers at PBD 2007 had pointed out that India's infrastructure requirements represent a good opportunity for overseas investment but that more internal reforms were needed in India’s economy to attract FDI. How can the high demands be met by the private sector? What incentives can be offered to overseas Indians to divert funds into more profitable investments? What steps should be taken by the Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre to assist such investments? Moderator: Chanda Kochhar, Joint Managing Director, ICICI Bank Limited, India Chief Guest: P R Dasmunsi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India Guest of Honour: Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, Cabinet Minister of Works, Government of Malaysia & President, Malaysian Indian Congress Panel: G. V. Sanjay Reddy, Vice Chairman, GVK Group, India M. Rajaram, Chairman, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Senior Director Straits Law Practice LLC, Singapore Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman, Hero Corporate Service Ltd., India |
| 1900 - 2100 hrs: |
Cultural Evening |
| 2100 hrs |
Reception Hosted by Mr. Ajay Shankar, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India |
| 2145 hrs: |
Dinner hosted by Mr. Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India |
| Venue: |
Front Lawns, Ashoka Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 |
Wednesday, 9th January 2008 |
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| 0930 - 1100 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
PLENARY III Trade & Business Opportunities Business is the glue that binds countries together in this era of globalisation. India's corporates are no slouches when it comes to global competitiveness and have been able to set world-class benchmarks of productivity and quality, attracting foreign funds in the billions. But there is a whole new opportunity at the Tier 2 business levels among Small and Medium Enterprises as well, incubators of entrepreneurship and generators of production and employment. Remittances from overseas Indians have already soared - propelled by easy money transfer through organisations such as Western Union - but are not being directed into business opportunities. PBD 2007 had recommended special financial instruments to facilitate overseas Indian investments and remittances. How can overseas Indians forge deeper and closer partnerships with business in India? What are the investment opportunities that afford higher returns to overseas Indians beyond mere bank interest ? What business potential for the diaspora arises from the many Free Trade Agreements that India is negotiating? Chair: T K A Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India Chief Guest: Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India Guest of Honour: Harinder Takhar, Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Canada Panel: Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, CII & Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises, India Anil Kapur, Managing Director, Western Union Services India Pvt. Ltd., India Lord Karan Bilimoria, CBE, DL, Co-Chair, Indo-British Partnership and Founder & Chairman, Cobra Beer Ltd., UK |
| 1100 - 1130 hrs: | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 1130 - 1300 hrs : (Plenary Hall) |
PLENARY IV Developmental Challenges of the States: Partnership Opportunities India's states have become microcosms of the growth process. There is a vast divergence in the rates of growth attained by different states in the country. While some states offer attractive and facilitative investment climates, others are lagging behind in both growth and development. Per capita income differentials are as high as three-four times between the richest states and the poorest states. Yet the dream of inclusive growth will remain unfulfilled if all states do not progress equally. PBD 2007 had participation from 8 Indian states, promoting ways in which the diaspora could engage in development at the local levels. Well-attended sessions revealed the interest of overseas Indians in their home states. How can this interest be leveraged? What can states do to promote diaspora engagement? Chair: Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Chief Guest: Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India Guests of Honour: Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, India Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana, India Madhu Koda, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, India V S Achuthanandan*, Chief Minister of Kerala, India Vilasrao Deshmukh*, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India Gautam Singh, Ministry of Industries, Government of Bihar, India Elamaram Kareem, Minister of Industries, Government of Kerala, India Dr. Digamber Singh, Minister of Industries, Government of Rajasthan, India (Karnataka) |
| 1300 - 1400 hrs: | Lunch hosted by Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi |
| 1400 - 1515 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
WORKING SESSIONS ON REGIONS Working Session: GULF Moderator: M M Hasan, Former Minister, (NORKA) Information and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala, India Special Address: Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Chief Guest : E Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India Panel: Sri Mohammad Shabbir Ali, Minister for Energy & Coal, Minorities Welfare, Wakf Urdu Academy, Government of Andhra Pradesh, India Elamaram Kareem, Minister of Industries, Government of Kerala, India Pee Vee Abdul Wahab, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, India Y A Rahim, President, Indian Association Sharjah M A Yousaffali, OIFC Trustee and Managing Director, Emke Group, UAE Pankaj Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas Group, Oman C K Menon, Managing Director, Dehzad Group, K Ashok Kumar, Correspondent, Malayalam News, Bahrain |
| 1400 - 1515 hrs: (Hall No. 6) |
Working Session: ASIA - PACIFIC Moderator: N Ravi, Secretary (East) Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Chief Guest : Mani Shankar Aiyer, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports, Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India Panel: Vijaya Vaidyanathan, CEO - designate, Waitakere City Council, Auckland, New Zealand Neville Roach, Chairman, Australia-India Business Council, Australia |
| 1400 - 1515 hrs: | Working Session: AFRICA Moderator: T.C. Venkat Subramanian, Chairman ∓ Managing Director, Exim Bank, India Chief Guest: Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India Guest of Honour: Councillor Logie Naidoo, Deputy Mayor of Durban, South Africa Panel: Abraham Thomas, Vice President, World Malyalee Council, South Africa Chapter Mahyendrah Utchanah, President, GOPIO, Mauritius Prof Dusruth Chetty, Pro Chancellor University of KwaZulu Natal Dr. J K Chande, KBE, Chairman, Barclays Bank, Tanzania Ram Balasubramaniam, President, Tata International Limited, India |
| 1400 - 1515 hrs: (Hall No. 4) |
Working Session: AMERICAS Moderator: Lalit Mansingh, Former Indian Ambassador to USA Chief Guest: Dr. Ashwini Kumar,Minister of State for Industry, Government of India Guest of Honour: Basdeo Pandey, Former Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobagoo Panel: Inder Singh, President, GOPIO Inc, California, USA Sunil Jagasia, President, Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada Ashook Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO, New York, USA Arathi Krishna, Embassy of India, Washington, USA Kasi Rao, Sick Kids Foundation, Canada Madhu Yakshi*, Member of Parliament, India |
| 1400 - 1515 hrs: (Hall No. 3) |
Working Session: EUROPE Moderator: S K Lambah, Special Envoy of the PM of India Chief Guest: Praful Patel, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India Panel: Lord Diljit S Rana, Honorary Indian Consul for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom T. M. Jacob, Managing Director, Jtils Industries, President World Malyalee Council, German Province, Germany Dr Ryan Tewari President GOPIO, Netherlands Neeraj Jain, President, India Business Alliance, Moscow, Russian Federation |
| 1530 - 1700 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
PLENARY V Diaspora Philanthropy : Empowerment of Rural Women The Indian diaspora has been generous in what it has given to its mater. In terms of knowledge, funds, support, and investments, it has pledged its allegiance to family and countrymen. Many have delineated the areas in which they want to participate - be it education, health, culture or business. But there are not enough systems in place that will encourage their trust towards civil society organisations and many do not know what to do with their money and ideas. The Indian American Council has created a platform for Indians in America to engage constructively with India’s development. PBD 2007 suggested a foundation for attracting philanthropic funds and amendment of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. This panel will discuss the modes of participation and the kinds of institutional support systems that the diaspora requires. Moderator: T P Sreenivasan, Former Ambassador of India to the United Nations, Vienna Chief Guest: Renuka Chaudhary, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Government of India Keynote Address: Leena Srivastava, Executive Director, The Energy and Research Institute, India Panel: Reema Nanavaty, Director, Economic and Rural Development, SEWA, India Lakshmi V Venkatesan, Founding Trustee & Executive Vice-President, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust, India Dr Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Texas, Dallas, USA Raj Loomba, Founder Chairman Trustee, The Loomba Trust, India Amita Puri, General Manager - Resource Mobilisation, Child Relief and You, India |
| 1700 - 1715 hrs: | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 1730 - 1830 hrs: (Plenary Hall) |
Valedictory Session & Presentation of Samman Awards National Anthem Welcome Address: Nirmal Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Citations and Awards Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards Address: Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India Valedictory Address: Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India Vote of Thanks: Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, Confederation of Indian Industry, India National Anthem |
| 1900 - 2100 hrs: |
Cultural Evening & Reception |
| 2130 hrs: |
Farewell Dinner hosted by Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India |
| Venue: |
Front Lawns, Ashoka Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 |