Toronto: India will hold a mini-Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas here to showcase the country`s colourful
culture and traditions while strengthening economic ties
between the two nations.
More than 700 non-resident Indians from across North
America are expected to participate in the two-day convention
that begins June nine, Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary A
Didar Singh told newsmen here yesterday.
The theme of the convention, jointly organised by the
government of India and the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce
(ICCC) will be "Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for
the Indian Diaspora," Singh said.
The convention will celebrate contributions of the
million strong Indo-Canadians to the country`s society, he
said.
"The convention and year-long events to commemorate
"the Year of India in Canada" will give a big boost to
India-Canada relations," Singh said.
The relations between the two countries have
strengthened with the signing of crucial nuclear deal here
last year and a decision to triple trade from the present USD
5 billion by 2015, he said.
2011 was declared as `Year of India in Canada` by
Indian Prime Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Stephen Harper
during the latter`s visit to India in November 2009, Consul
General of India Preeti Saran said.
India`s art and culture as well as its rise as an
economic power will be showcased by the High Commission of
India in Ottawa and Consulate General of India in Toronto in
cooperation with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations,
Saran said.
Efforts will be made to promote closer
people-to-people ties across a broad range of sectors
including business, she said.
Saran said the million-strong Indo-Canadian community
stands out in the 25 million global Indian Diaspora for
building India?s bridges with the world.
Highlighting the accomplishments of Indo-Canadian
community, Ontario Minister for Government Services, Harinder
Takhar, praised the Indian community for enriching the
diversity of Canada.
The two-day convention will have three plenary
sessions: Role of the Indian Diaspora in building economic
bridges; Engaging the Diaspora Youth: Education and
Innovation; and Engaging the Global Indians, spokesperson for
the convention, Asha Luthra said.
A forty-member business delegation from India is
expected to participate in the convention, she said.
Besides, it would have five concurrent sessions that
will cover wide range of topical issues like Innovation,
Science and Technology; IT in Animation, Film Industry and
Visual Media, Healthcare and Tele-medicine and Small and
Medium Enterprises, she added.
More than 50 experts in public policy and public
affairs, corporate and business, medicine and healthcare, arts
and culture, science and technology, youth and gender will be
addressing the convention, ICCC President Vinay Nagpal said.
PTI
