Pravasi Bharatiya Divas kicks off in Odisha, showcasing opportunities for diaspora

India will showcase areas of opportunity in their motherland to its diaspora living abroad during the 18th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention which commences in Odisha's Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

The three-day convention, conducted by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will kick off with Odisha being the partner state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the convention on January 9, while 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman' awards will be conferred by President Droupadi Murmu on January 10 to Indian diaspora for exceptional work in their fields in India and abroad.

On the occasion, an exhibition named ‘Vishwaroop Ram: The Universal Legacy of Ramayana’ will showcase India’s timeless epic Ramayana to the Indian diaspora.

On Tuesday, the joint inauguration of Youth PBD will be done by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi. The event will provide an opportunity for Indian diaspora to reconnect with their roots.

PBD will also have sessions with Indian diaspora on several themes including Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World, Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills, Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development and Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women's Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti.