Pravasi Bharatiya Divas begins today

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

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New Delhi: India's flagship annual event to connect with its diaspora spread across the globe will begin in New Delhi on Thursday which will primarily focus on boosting investment and sharing of expertise. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the eighth edition of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas on Friday while President Pratibha Patil will deliver her valedictory address on January nine. Nearly 1,500 delegates from over 50 countries including top businessmen, economists, entrepreneurs and scientists will participate in the three-day event which will also see participation of 15 chief ministers and several Union ministers. One of the major highlight of the event will be the first meeting of the Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council, comprising 20 top global business leaders and economists of Indian origin including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, steel magnate L N Mittal and Pepsi chief Indra Nooyi. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Prime Minister's residence on Thursday.  The eighth edition of the flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has been structured differently this time with a view to provide the delegates with an opportunity to interact with Union ministers and chief ministers.