PM Modi at 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: No matter where we are around the globe, it is our common cultural bond that brings us together

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bengaluru on Sunday. The prime minister reached Bengaluru in wee hours for the purpose and was received at the airport by the Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with several other ministers.

PM Modi inaugurated the main convention along with his Portuguese counterpart Dr Antonio Costa who is the chief guest for the event.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event is held annually in the country on January 9 to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi as a Pravasi from South Africa to India. It is considered to be an important convention to build a platform for engagement between Central and state governments with Overseas Indian Community.

The prime minister is likely to announce sops for non-resident Indians in his speech.

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Highlights of the inaugural event:

#PM Modi concludes speech amidst slogans of  'Bharat Mata ki Jai'

#No matter where we are around the globe, it is our common cultural bond that brings us together- PM 

#PM: From January 1 this year, beginning with Delhi & Bengaluru, we have set up special counters at immig'n points for OCI cardholders

#PM: We have extended the deadline for PIO card conversions to OCI from 31 December 2016, until June 30, 2017 without any penalty.

#Calling the diaspora to invest in India, PM Narendra Modi redefines FDI to mean 'First Develop India' 

#Urge PIO card holders to convert their PIO cards into OCI cards- PM 

#PM: We remain committed to addressing similar difficulties of PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States.

#PM: Starting w/ Mauritius, we are working to put in place procedures so that descendants of Girmitiyas could become eligible for OCI Cards

#PM: We will shortly launch a skill devt program - the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana - targeted at Indian youth seeking overseas employment

#PM recognises efforts made by EAM Sushma Swaraj for reaching out to distressed Indians abroad via social media

#Directed embassies to be pro-active towards needs and problems of Indian community abroad - 24 hrs helplines, open house meeting with Indians, Twitter seva for passport, we are their for you when you need us: PM

#PM Modi at 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Our aim is 'for every Indian abroad home should never be far'

#We do not see colour of passport, we see colour of blood: PM Modi

#PM: There is new energy, keen desire and strong drive among Indian Diaspora to connect more extensively & deeply w/ India’s transformation

#Remittance of close to sixty-nine billion dollars annually by overseas Indians makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy: PM

#India will change brain drain to brain gain: PM Modi at PBD 2017

#For my govt and me personally, engagement with peoples living overseas is my priority: PM at Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Bengaluru

#The Indian diaspora represents the best of Indian culture, ethos and values: PM at Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Bengaluru

#There are over 30 million Indians living overseas, they're valued not for numbers, but for their contributions: PM at PBD2017 

#PM Modi says this day is a celebration to mark the return to India of one of the greatest Pravasis

#PM begins address, condoles death of Mario Soares, architect of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal

#PM Narendra Modi inaugurates event amidst roaring applause

#PM Dr Antonio Costa thanks delegates for the homage to Mario Soares, former PM of Portugal and icon of democracy

#PM Dr Antonio Costa: very proud to be invited to #PBD2017, an event in which India respects its citizen living abroad

#Portuguese PM Dr Antonio Costa flashes his PIO card, says he is proud to be  person of Indian origin!

#Proud of my Goan-origin, says Portuguese PM Dr Antonio Costa 

#Chief guest Indian-origin Portuguese PM Dr Antonio Costa thanks Modi for invitation and friendship

#CM Siddarammiah: expresses hope that PBD 2017 will redefine engagement with the Indian Diaspora

#Karnataka CM speech at PBD2017 highlights factors that make Karnataka the leading state in India

#India succeeds because the world wants India to succeed: Union Minister Ananth Kumar 

10:00AM

#PM Modi reaches the event venue 

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