Lok Sabha Question No. 859 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

- (a) Yes.
- (b) The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is always organized in India. However, Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas  (RPBD) is organized in countries where there is large concentration of Indian diaspora.

This year, the RPBD was held in Singapore on 6-7 January 2018 as a part of the commemoration of 25 years of ASEAN-India Partnership. Under the   theme   of   'Ancient   Route,   New   Journey:   Diaspora   in   the   Dynamic ASEAN-India Partnership', the RPBD highlighted the ancient links between India and Southeast Asia; and promoted greater economic and cultural cooperation between India and Southeast Asian nations as well as ASEAN. The event also showcased Indian Diaspora's talent and achievements and deepen their - especially the youth's - links with India and their role in promoting closer India-Southeast Asia ties.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.859 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

859. KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S. R. VIJAYA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has organized Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with aims and objectives of the same;
- (c) the details of discussions held and achievements made during the said event;
- (d) the total   number  of   non-resident   Indians   and   persons   of   Indian origin who have participated in the said event, country-wise;
- (e) the names of the places where Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been organized so far; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to explore opportunities for investment in India by the Overseas Indian?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(c) The event featured 16 thematic sessions wherein over 100 eminent speakers including policy makers from India, Singapore and ASEAN region participated. The event evolved  into one of the biggest business meets with sessions on ASEAN-India Economic Partnership; India and ASEAN in the   Digital   World;   Infrastructure   Development;   Financial   Partnership; Expanding   Trade   and   Services;   Promotion   of   Make   in   India;   Legal framework of doing business in India and ASEAN; Science & Technology; Consular, Culture, T ourism and Connectivity Issues.

External   Affairs   Minister   Smt.   Sushma   Swaraj   led   the   Indian delegation   at   RPBD,   Singapore   and   delivered   opening   address   on   the plenary on January 7, 2018. Besides bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister   of   Singapore,   EAM   met   delegations   from   ASEAN   countries, veterans of Azad Hind Fauz, visited all parallel sessions & addressed the Community Event. Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore Mr. T eo Chee Hean and Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan also participated in the RPBD.

A significant part of the event was competitions for diaspora youth in essay and poetry (in English, Hindi and Tamil), classical Indian dance and music, photo competition on what best represents India in ASEAN and online challenges on six social themes of relevance to India. 43 winners in all   categories   were   felicitated   by   External   Affairs   Minister   and   Foreign Minister of Singapore.

Minister   for   Road   T ransport   &   Highways,   Shipping   and   Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari delivered keynote address in the panel discussion on India-ASEAN Economic   Partnership   on   January   6,   2018.   An   India-Singapore/ASEAN Startup portal, which aims at connecting startups and entrepreneurs as well as investors in India and the ASEAN region, was jointly launched by the   Minister   and   the   T rade   and   Industry   Minister   of   Singapore   Mr.   S. Iswaran.

The  event   has   received   widespread   appreciation   in   the   ASEAN region as having enhanced India's image and prestige. The event also generated   considerable   interest   in   economic   engagement   between Northeast India and the ASEAN region.

(d) 5296   participants   including   NRIs   and   PIOs   from   25   countries participated in the two days event. The country wise break up is given below:

| India             |                   | 478   |
|-------------------|-------------------|-------|
| Indonesia         |                   | 12    |
| Malaysia Thailand | 230 33            |       |
| Singapore         |                   | 4407  |
| Vietnam           |                   | 12    |
| Myanmar           |                   | 11    |
| Brunei            |                   | 9     |
| Cambodia          |                   | 3     |
| Laos              |                   | 3     |
| Philippines       |                   | 2     |
| Other countries96 | Other countries96 |       |

(e) RPBDs have been organized in  New  York,   The   Hague,   Durban, Toronto, Mauritius, Sydney, London, Los Angeles & Singapore. (f) The Government has put in place a liberal and transparent policy for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), including investments from Non-resident Indians (NRIs), wherein most of the sectors are open to FDI under the automatic   route.   The   policy   allows   special   dispensation   for   NRI investments in various sectors like Air Transport Services (Scheduled & Non-scheduled), Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airlines, Non-Scheduled airlines,   Chartered   airlines   and   Cargo   airlines,   wherein   100%   NRI investment is permitted under the automatic route. Further investment made by NRIs on non-repatriation basis under Schedule 4 of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) Regulation is deemed to be domestic investment at par with the investment made by residents. *****