New Delhi, Jan 8: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) here today.

Mauritius Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam will be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

More than 1000 delegates are expected to participate in the three-day conclave.

The theme of the convention is ‘Engaging the Diaspora: the way forward’.

Health and education, knowledge economy, culture, women empowerment and leadership, trade and business, infrastructure, partnership opportunities with Indian states are some of the important topics that will be addressed during the meet.

The PBD will project these social issues and enable overseas Indians to express their ideas and ways of possible participation.

Besides, investments and business engagement sessions will also part of the programme.

As the issues of overseas Indians differ from region to region, working sessions for Gulf, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and Americas will be held.

Twelve Union Ministers and six ministers from overseas will take part in the proceedings. The State Governments will be fully involved in the sessions so that participants can directly interact with government representatives and address their concerns and have exposure to the government’ programmes for the common man and how they could be involved in these.

The PBD is the annual flagship event of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

The event will also see participation of Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Renuka Chaudhary, Minister of State (independent charge) for Women and Child Development, Kapil Sibal, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Ocean Development.

Dr. R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, K V. Kamath, Vice President CII and Managing Director and CEO ICICI Bank, Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, CII and Chairman and Group CEO Bharti Enterprises, Shashi Tharoor, Writer and former UN under Secretary General, Shekhar Kapur, Film Producer and Director and Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women will speak during the sessions. (ANI)