Diaspora delegates exempted from luxury tax

September 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) is organising the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-Europe (PBD-E), a regional diaspora event, at the Hague in the Netherlands Sep 19. The event, to be held at the World Forum, is to "celebrate the success of Indian diaspora and unite them for a better India".

September 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India has only now begun to tap its 25-million diaspora in 130 countries to boost its growth, unlike China that owes much of its economic miracle to the overseas Chinese, says a study released Friday. Indian companies have tapped into the Indian diaspora less well than the Chinese firms into the Chinese diaspora, says Tarun Khanna, professor at the Harvard Business School and a contributor to the study called The Global Indian Firm.

June 12th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday lashed out at the central government for only making announcements and not doing anything to help the diaspora and those who have returned from abroad.

June 5th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Welcoming the address of President Pratibha Patil to the Indian parliament, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in Belgium said the importance of the Indian diaspora must not be viewed only in static economic terms but as social and cultural ambassadors of India, EuAsiaNews reported Friday. President Patil in her address to the parliament said Thursday India would deepen its ties with its 25-million diaspora in 130 countries that has emerged as an important force in respective countries of domicile.

June 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will deepen its ties with its 25-million diaspora in 130 countries that has emerged as an important force in respective countries of domicile, President Pratibha Patil said Thursday. Our ties and kinship with the diaspora make us acutely conscious of their well-being and to be sensitive to their concerns, the president said in an address to a joint session of the new parliament that convened after the national election last month.

January 30th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Migration Research Unit, affiliated to the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) here, will work with the Chandigarh-based Centre for Rural Research and Industrial Development (CRRID) to conduct the first-ever comprehensive study on international migration from Punjab. S. Irudayarajan, head of the the research unit which is funded by the Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs, said that they will be providing the questionnaire for the survey and also provide the sampling design.

January 8th, 2009 CHENNAI - The following are some of the highlights of the seventh edition of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that concluded here Friday: - Nearly 1,500 delegates from 48 countries - Maximum number of 270 delegates from Malaysia followed by 127 from the US - Thirteen prominent Indians abroad presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman - The Global Indian Knowledge Network launched to create a virtual think tank by connecting the diaspora - Qualified professional holding overseas citizen of India card can soon practice in India - Smart card to be issued to all Indian workers immigrating from June 1 - Diaspora recognises that India's growth story remains positive and presents them opportunities for investing - Consensus for increased diaspora participation in health, education and rural development under public-private partnership - Chief ministers and senior cabinet members of six states outline opportunities during separate interactions with delegates

January 7th, 2009 CHENNAI - The overseas Indian affairs ministry may have to wait some years before seeing surplus from its prestigious annual event, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). According to a ministry official, the event costs around Rs.60 million (Rs.6 crore or $1,235,000) to host.

January 7th, 2009 CHENNAI - Activists of a Tamil nationalist group and a Hindu organisation Thursday organised separate demonstrations in this city, where the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) is underway, to draw attention to their cause. Organisers of both the protests said they were using the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas occasion 'to voice their hurt feelings and attract international attention'.

January 7th, 2009 CHENNAI - Qualified overseas Indian professionals, with Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards as well as others, can soon practise in India, it was announced here Thursday. The government will extend its new scheme permitting qualified professionals holding Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards to practise in India to other members of diaspora possessing similar qualification.

January 6th, 2009 CHENNAI - Colourful giant billboards and tight security welcome 1,500 delegates and dignitaries at the venue of the seventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the country's annual convention to connect with its diaspora starting here Wednesday evening. Delegates from over 40 countries are scheduled to participate in the three-day event Chennai Trade Centre.

January 6th, 2009 CHENNAI - What better time to hardsell tourism packages than the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas? The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corp (TTDC) is offering two tour packages for participants at the seventh edition of the diaspora meet here. Targeting the 1,500-odd delegates arriving from over 40 countries, TTDC is offering one-day and two-day tour packages.

December 25th, 2008 NEW DELHI - Over 1,500 delegates will participate in the forthcoming annual jamboree of the people of Indian origin, to be held in Chennai in the first week of next year. Surinam Vice-President Ramdien Saredjoe will be the chief guest of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' (PBD) 2009 edition, which will be held Jan 7-9.

December 23rd, 2008 KOCHI - The two-day diaspora meet 'Ente Naadu', billed as a platform for the Kerala diaspora to invest in tourism projects in the state, concluded here Wednesday with an investment of over Rs.10 billion expected to take place in the coming years, a minister said. Over 500 non-resident Keralites (NRKs) from 42 countries took part in the two-day event.

December 22nd, 2008 KOCHI - The two day 'Ente Naadu', billed as a platform for the Kerala diaspora to invest in tourism projects in the state, has attracted a good response with more than 500 delegates from 42 countries attending the meet. The key objective of the two day meet is to open up exciting prospects for non resident Keralites (NRKs) through the 'Bring Home a Friend programme', which will make them brand ambassadors of Kerala.