New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) Over 1,500 delegates from across the globe are likely to participate in India's annual diaspora conclave to be held in Jaipur Jan 7-9, 2012, Vayalar Ravi, minister of overseas Indian affairs and civil aviation, said Friday.


Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar will be the chief guest at the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD).

The theme of PBD 2012 will be “Global Indian-Inclusive Growth”.

“We are expecting more number of participants in the PBD 2012. Over 1,500 delegates are likely to participate,” Ravi said at a press conference here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the event Jan 8, 2012 and President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory address and confer Pravasi Bhartiya Samman awards Jan 9.

Ravi said the event would provide an excellent opportunity to connect with 27-million strong Indian diaspora spread over 150 countries across the world.

The Indian diaspora is the second largest expatriate community in the world after the Chinese. “The expatriate community plays an important role in the growth and development of the country. Our aim is to encourage them to play an even greater role,” the minister said.

The PBD 2012 will be organised by the ministry of overseas Indian affairs in partnership with government of Rajasthan. The Confederation of Indian Industry is the institutional partner of the event.

The three-day event will be held at Marriott hotel in Rajasthan's capital Jaipur, popularly called pink city.

“The event will help the people from norther part of the country, especially Rajasthan, to reconnect with diaspora and go abroad and find jobs,” Ravi said.

Ravi pointed out that increasingly large number of people from norther part of the country were going abroad, especially to the Gulf countries, to find gainful employment.