Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India, addressing the valedictory session of PBD 2007 said, that a world Knowledge Platform could be a launch pad for innovation with the combined power of nations. Combining core competencies of nations would help develop knowledge products in a short lead-time. The World Knowledge Platform would have missions in the categories of energy, water, healthcare, food, knowledge products, automobiles, and capacity building.

President Kalam also outlined the Global Human Resource cadre, two caders comprising youth with world class skills and youth with higher education and research qualifications. India’s current levels of higher education must be raised to 50 percent by 2040 and each Indian student must have the choice of the education he wants to pursue.PIOs could help in this effort through ideas and funding, stated the President. Giving his vision of India in 2020, Dr Kalam said that the country has the potential to be a developed country by 2030 and there are great opportunities in the great transformation of India. President Kalam also honoured 15 accomplished Pravasi’s with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.

• It has been decided to extend a wider range of benefits to the OCI cardholders:
• The OCI cardholders now have parity with Non Residents Indians on Inter Country Adoption.
• They will also have parity with Residents Indian nationals in the Domestic Airfares.
• Further, they will have parity with Indian Nationals in entry fees for National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries, announced Mr. Vayalar
• Other benefits being considered for the Overseas Indians include, allowing overseas Indian doctors to practice in India.
• The Social Security agreement with the Belgian Government would form the model agreement for similar bilateral agreements with other countries.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee
Minister of External Affairs

Six key areas where partnerships could be forged with the Overseas Indians in a mutually advantageous manner include the social sector, infrastructure, farm sector, education system, R&D and innovation in the country. He also felt that “our friends from overseas can contribute immensely in meeting the requirements of energy security in India.”

Ms Ambika Soni
Minister of Tourism & Culture

"The Government has facilitated long-term visas for up to 5 years with multiple entry options to encourage more people to visit India. Connectivity to key tourism destinations around the country have improved significantly and rural tourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism, wellness tourism and cruise - tourism, etc., are being promoted to attract international tourists to India."

Ms. Sheila Dikshit
Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi

"Knowledge, expertise and resources from Overseas Indians in cleaning up the River Yamuna, a key source of drinking water for the state, is important."

Mr. Narendra Modi
Chief Minister of Gujarat

" Gujarat is developing special economic zones (SEZs) benchmarked with those in the Developed Countries."
" Gujarat has become the nerve center for industrial activity.

Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Chief Minister of Haryana

"The New Industrial Policy-2005 initiative has paved way for unprecedented investment inflows of nearly Rs 10,000 crore."
"Haryana has taken strident steps in the industrial sector, and as a result, many top MNCs have headquartered their Indian operations in the state."

Mr. Gautam Singh
Minister of State for Industry (IC), Government of Bihar

" Bihar is focused on promoting private-public partnerships for infrastructure development."
"The state is promoting a food park in Hajipur, a textile park in Bhagalpur, an agri export zone, and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research in Hajipur, among a host of similar projects."

Mr R Seshasayee
President, Confederation of Indian Industry

"Inclusive growth can only take place in India if states carry out the necessary reforms."
"Certain states have developed good growth models and they need to create a shelf of bankable projects that can attract capital from the private sector."

Mr Shivraj Patil
Minister of Home Affairs

"NRIs can make a significant contribution in ocean resources, knowledge and knowledge services. "

Mr Sharad Pawar
Minister of Agriculture

"The professional expertise that NRIs bring to the table is a tremendous asset for India's growth strategy."
"Encouraging public-private collaboration in the agricultural sector is an important policy decision of the Indian government."

Mr Kirit Parikh
Member, Planning Commission

"In order to achieve 10 percent growth India needs to further strengthen its infrastructure."
"More importantly, there is need for better quality of service delivery. How efficiently we are able to deliver services would largely determine the extent of our success."

Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh

"NRIs have brought great honour to India by their hard work in the countries of their domicile."
"MP has set up an NRI centre to serve the interests of NRIs in various areas including investments."

Mr Katta Subramanya Naidu
Minister for Large & Medium Industries, Karnataka

"Karnataka has liberal rules for private participation in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors in the state, which NRIs would find attractive."

Mr Narpat Singh Rajvi
Minister for Industry, Rajasthan

"Rajasthan offers a host of incentives to investors in education."

Mr Elamaram Kareem
Minister of Industries, Kerala

"A significant driver of the State's economy is remittances from overseas Keralites."
"NORKA, the State agency established to service overseas Keralites, has been very successful."

Mr K S Vatya
Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Maharashtra

"Three sectors with special policies are industry, tourism and housing."
"It is expected that 58 per cent of the state's population will be living in urban areas in the near future. This would lead to tremendous demands on housing. It is, therefore, an excellent opportunity for investment."

STATES' SESSIONS

Pranab Mukherjee
Minister for External Affairs

“The observance of PBD in the first week of January has gaineda prominent place in all our calendars. The occasion provides us the opportunity to meet, compare and generate fresh ideas that all of us gathered here could harness to mutual benefit.”

Shivraj Patil
Minister for Home Affairs

“The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has emerged as a platform for multiplying opportunities and sharing views”

Sharad Pawar
Minister of Agriculture

“I am glad that agriculture has been introduced as an important topic in this edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.”

Dr. S.Subramaniam
Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Housing & Local Government Member of Parliament, Malaysia
“This time, we are happy, that each state has come out with the opportunities available.We all appreciate the tremendous opportunities and hope the global community will take these up and respond to these opportunities.”

Ivan Fernandes
TiE Middle East Ltd.

"This Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been a great experience."