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Bhubaneswar To Host Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention From Tomorrow, PM Modi To Address On Jan 9

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held in Bhubaneswar from January 8-10, showcasing Odisha's cultural heritage and economic opportunities. PM Modi will address the event on Jan 9.

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is set to be held in Bhubaneswar from 8th to 10th January, marking the first time the event is being hosted in Odisha. The convention, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th January, is being organised in partnership with the Odisha state government.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee stated, “The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held in Bhubaneswar from tomorrow, 8th to 10th January in partnership with the state government of Odisha. It is being organised for the first time in the state of Odisha, which is famous for its rich historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage. As you are aware, since 2017, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions have been held every 2 years. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held in Indore in January 2023, in partnership with the state government of Madhya Pradesh.”

He stated that the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be celebrated on 8th January.

"On the afternoon of the first day, the Odisha Government will be hosting two plenary sessions. The first one is called 'Unravelling India's Best Kept Secret,' and the second one is titled 'Odisha, a Land of Opportunities.' At these two sessions, the State Government of Odisha will showcase the enormous potential that can be harnessed by the Indian Diaspora in Odisha through their engagements in developing and promoting tourism, trade, investments in various sectors such as textiles and garments, forest products, healthcare, pharma, food processing, and startups," Arun Chatterjee added.

He further mentioned that Prime Minister Modi will also address the convention. "The Prime Minister will remotely flag off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian Diaspora, which will depart from Delhi and travel to multiple destinations of touristic and religious importance in India for a period of three weeks," he informed.

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Odisha To Highlight Economic, Cultural Strengths At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event is expected to highlight India's growing relationship with its diaspora, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underscoring the strengthening of ties under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. Over the last decade, the government has introduced several initiatives, including E-MIGRTAE, MADAD, and the upgraded Pravasi Bima Yojana, aimed at ensuring the welfare of Indian nationals abroad. Additionally, community wings in Indian missions abroad have been adopting a “people-first” approach to engage with the diaspora.

The convention will also shine a spotlight on Odisha’s strategic position as part of India’s Act East Policy. With its vast coastline, well-developed ports, and abundant natural resources, Odisha is poised to enhance its ties with South East Asia in the fields of commerce, economy, and culture. This will offer significant opportunities for investors and business stakeholders in the ASEAN region and the Indo-Pacific, the MEA stated.

Odisha has been recognised as a leader in various sectors, including mining, iron and steel manufacturing, marine economy, sports, skilling, and the knowledge economy. Several Indian IT companies have already established a base in the state, and the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will provide a platform to showcase the state’s potential to the world, as per the MEA.

The state’s rich cultural history, particularly its ancient maritime connections with South East Asia, will also feature prominently at the event. The MEA highlighted the significant role Odisha has played in the region’s cultural exchanges, saying, “Merchants, monks, and travellers from Odisha visited places far and wide in South East Asia. The Bali Yatra and Odisha’s connections with Sri Lanka speak of these vibrant cultural ties. These exchanges are being renewed.”

The convention will also feature a Ramayana exhibition, which will explore how the epic travelled to countries in South East Asia, where it continues to be celebrated. Other exhibitions will focus on technology, the Indian diaspora, and the historical significance of these cultural exchanges.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha aligns with the Government’s Purvodaya initiative, aimed at fostering all-round development in five states: Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh.

In addition to its cultural and economic contributions, Odisha is also a thriving tourism hub, with its rich cultural heritage, history, religious sites, national parks, and pristine beaches. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will showcase the state’s potential as a key tourism destination, complementing Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Chalo India’ campaign encouraging the diaspora to visit India with five foreign friends, the MEA said.

"The celebrations will showcase the vibrancy of Indian diaspora and their achievements abroad. This year exhibitions – on Ramayana, Technology and Diaspora and Archiving the history of diaspora– are being organised to spotlight the contributions of the Indian diaspora and how they have acted as a vehicle for promotion of Indian culture, values and ethos abroad," the ministry stated.

"⁠The Indian diaspora has an important role to play in the vision of VIKSIT BHARAT. The diaspora acts as a living bridge between their motherland and their adopted homeland. Conversations in PBD would happen on these subjects and how diaspora can facilitate India’s development, growth and its international engagements, and on what opportunities India has to offer to them," it highlighted.

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