Bhubaneswar: The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) kicked off here on Wednesday with the first day being devoted to the youth and aptly titled Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate this congregation of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) tomorrow.
Addressing the convention today at the sprawling Janata Maidan Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar y said his government’s Look East policy had a historical connect with Odisha where Bali Yata ( Voyage to Bali) is celebrated every year recalling the sea voyages to Bali, Sumatra and Borneo undertaken by Odia traders in the past. He also highlighted Odisha’s potential in 3Ts- Trade, Technology and Tourism.
The minister also ointed to the Modi government’s commitment to Purvodaya, the renaissance, revival and rejuvenation of the East. “India was historically at the greatest point when the eastern parts of India were at the height of glory and I will tell you one of the earliest commitments in this third term of Modi Government was to take practical decisions to enable the Purvodaya to happen, and a crucial fulcrum of that in many ways is the state of Odisha,” Jaishankar said.
Pointing out that the potential for trade based from Odisha is enormous, Jaishankar said “What a blessing Odisha has in terms of resources, but resources do not automatically translate into trade. Resources need investments, resources need facility, resources need connectivity and today how to increase, how to do the value add, so that what you trade is not the just resources but the value add from it and how the leverage the location of Odisha because one looks ahead, the eastern seaboard of India is going to become crucial exposure, connect of India to the world.”
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi pointed out how the Odisha government is striving hard to achieve the goal of Samruddha Odisha by 2036 and Viksit Bharat by 2047. “A key component of the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat is Purvodaya development of the Eastern Indian States. Odisha is the front runner of this effort,” he said.
The latest edition of PBD, a biennial event, is being held in Odisha for the first time, marking the Purvodaya Mission and Act East policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlighting the significance of the three-day event and the spotlight on Odisha at a media conference here Secretray (CPV&OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs Arun Kumar Chatterjee said the central government decided to organise the convention in Odisha under its Puvodaya initiative to showcase the potential the state holds in the field of culture, economy and commerce.
“Odisha has been recognised as a leader in various sectors including mining, marine economy, sports, skilled manpower and knowledge economy. With its abundant mineral and other natural resources, the state is also rich in culture, history, religious sites and spiritual heritage. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will provide an opportunity to Odisha to showcase its potential as a key tourism destination,” Chatterjee said.
“The Indian diaspora has emerged as the one of the largest source of remittance in the world. They are the biggest contributor to India’s economy and have an important role to play in Viksit Bharat. The diaspora acts as a living bridge between their motherland and their adopted homeland. Since they are socially, culturally and economically connected with their motherland, the Prime Minister described them as Rashtra Doot (Ambassador) of India,” he added.
Odisha’s BJP government is taking this opportunity to showcase the best the state has to offer in terms of art, culture, hospitality and business. A string of festivals will be held during the period of the convention and delegates will be taken to places of tourist significance in the state. The state government has identified 21 tourist spots for this purpose. Arrangements have been made to serve several cuisines of Odisha to the delegates during the course of PBD
