“Overseas Indians are reliable partners for India's progress in the Azadi ke Amrit Kaal. With their dynamism, hard work and good conduct, they have made India proud all over the world and given the country a unique identity. For this, I respect you,” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday.
He was addressing the inaugural session of Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organised in Indore on the first day of 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Youth and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and special guest Australian Parliamentarian Zaneta Mascarenhas inaugurated the programme along with Chouhan by lighting the lamp at the Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore.
Chouhan accorded a warm welcome to the guests and said that the people of Indore have decked up the entire city with rangoli and decorations to welcome them.
He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has earned a special place in the world through activities in the fields of cleanliness, Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India. "The building of Atmanirbhar Bharat is going on with knowledge and economic power. The operations of tech giants like Google, Master Card, Adobe, and Microsoft are in the hands of Indian youths. People like Sundar Pichai, Indra Nooyi have created a new history of success. Indian youth have proved their mettle in the world on the basis of technology and innovation," he said.
Chouhan added that Madhya Pradesh is continuously moving forward with a growth rate of 19.76 per cent and the state will introduce a youth policy very soon. He invited the overseas Indian youth to Madhya Pradesh for the implementation of their innovation, saying that his government will always extend all possible cooperation.
Jaishankar said that the statement made by Prime Minister Modi “Hamara to khoon ka rishta hai – passport ka nahi” (Ours is the relation of blood, not of passport), this thought gave impetus to the idea of Pravasi Bhartiya Sammelan. “We meet as a family every two years. In this conference being held in the Amrit Kaal of Azadi, let us consider the road map of 100 years of independence i.e., till the year 2047.”
He added that India has the largest number of expatriates in the world. “During the tough times of Covid, India extended goodwill to the whole world through Vaccine Friendship and Vande Bharat Mission.” He said that the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi has boosted the self-confidence of Indians and created an atmosphere of positivity in the country. “India is emerging as a better country to live, work and travel in.”
Mascarenhas, referring to Indore's cuisine and interesting places and specialities of various states of the country, said that India is continuously progressing in the field of industry and technology. She also spoke about the need to act with sensitivity in the field of climate change.
Thakur thanked Chief Minister Shri Chouhan for his consent and cooperation in organising the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan. He said the work of building 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (one India great India) is going on under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Indian youths have made India the third-largest startup nation in the world. He invited the youth to implement their ideas and innovations in India.
One-to-one meetings
On the first day of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention, NRIs and industrialists had personal meetings and discussions with CM Chouhan, who promised that the government will provide all help to boost investment and employment in various sectors in Madhya Pradesh.
Chouhan said that new investment is welcome in the renewable energy sector. He informed that the work is in progress for setting up a 600 megawatt floating plant at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. Along with this, efforts are being made in the field of renewable energy in places like Shajapur, Neemuch, Chhatarpur and Morena, he said. “The renewable energy sector has been given a substantial boost. Potential investors will be given assistance as per the state policy for investment in the renewable energy sector. Also, Madhya Pradesh wants to promote the production of millets including Sharbati wheat and Basmati rice,” he said.
The CM said that concrete steps are being taken for the development of information technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, health, food processing and textile industries.
Those who met the CM one-to-one included the NRIs and investors willing to invest in the fields of education and skill development, IT, setting up of science labs, renewable energy, marketing of organic products, tourism and starting mixed martial arts and fitness centres.
Among them were Sajan Latif who represented Information Technology companies in Gulf countries including UAE, Aman Haider from Qatar; Ankit Bohra, originally a resident of Datia and currently living in the UK who proposes to set up an incubation network at the district level, Ashwajit Garg who proposes a tourism resort in non-forest area in Dewas district, Dhanraj Panchal, a native of Rajasthan and living in Kuwait, who wants to work in the field of skill development, UK resident Amit Singh Rathore who is founder and CEO of Football Fan, Anil Nahar, Financial Advisor of Bahwan Enterprises, Bahrain, Vinod Tiwari of Gulf India Consultants, Rajesh Ramsinghani of Al Rama International Traders, P.Unnikrishnan and Abdul Jalil who work with sugar and paper industries and Dhananjay Balpande who has an interest in setting up a science lab.
