New Delhi: President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali will arrive on a seven-day visit to India on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, President Irfaan Ali will attend the inaugural session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Indore on January 9 as the chief guest.
During his India visit, he will also meet President Draupadi MurmuPrime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
President Irfaan Ali will be accompanied by his Surinamese counterpart Chan Santokhi during the inaugural session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Indore from January 8 to 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the conclave on January 9, Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA said.
17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is here!
MEA and Government of Madhya Pradesh welcome members of the Indian diaspora in Indore from Jan 8-10, 2023.
‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’ is the theme for this edition.
🎥 Here’s a glimpse: pic.twitter.com/kfcGWfv2ey
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) January 7, 2023
“Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Republic of Guyana, will be the Chief Guest at the 17th PBD while Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname will be the special guest of honour,” Sayeed said.
“We have received enthusiastic response from the diaspora for the convention with more than 3500 registrations from 66 different countries,” he added.
It is to be noted that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is being organised in a physical format after a gap of four years as the previous edition was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As per the official data, Guyana has 40 per cent Indian origin people while the percentage in Surinam is around 27.
Sayeed said this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention holds special significance as 2023 marks the 75th year of India’s independence and the history of its people, culture and achievement. “This will also be the first convention in the ‘Amrit Kaal”, he said.
“In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat over the next 25 years, and important partnership role to be played by the overseas Indians, the theme of 17th PBD Convention has been chosen to be ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal,” Sayeed added.