Minister of State for Finance Mr Shiv Pratap Shukla, who was the Guest of Honor, said that the overseas Indians were all pioneers in their respective fields and had made exceptional contributions in their chosen professions. He stressed that the present government had been making earnest efforts to strengthen its engagement with the Indian diaspora. He further emphasized on the importance of such conventions and said, ‘These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and the people of the land of their ancestors for their mutually beneficial activities. These conferences are also useful in networking among the overseas Indian communities’.

ARSP President Mr Virendra Gupta, India’s former ambassador to South Africa, said that the ARSP had been actively engaged in providing an interface for the diaspora during the last five decades. In doing so, the roles of those who were politically active in their adopted countries had been recognized.

ARSP Secretary-General and PIOCCI patron Mr Shyam Parande said that the Indian diaspora was very vibrant. He said that the emergence of a global body of Parliamentarians of Indian origin would make this world a better place to live in.