New Delhi, 22 September 2014

Gujarat Finance Minister Shri Saurabhbhai Patel and Gujarat’s Minister of State for Non-resident Gujaratis, Shri Pradeepsinh Jadeja today met Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Smt Sushma Swaraj here for the first advisory committee meeting on upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2015, to be held in Gandhinagar.

The 13th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held for the first time in Gujarat, at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar from January 7-9th, 2015.

Terming the meeting very successful, Gujarat Finance Minister Shri Saurabhbhai Patel said that the theme of the PBD has been decided to be 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi returned to homeland from South Africa on January 9, 1915 and hence all the celebrations at PBD 2015 will be focused on the centenary year of Gandhi’s homecoming, Shri Patel added.

The mega event is expected to be attended by over 4000-5000 NRIs, the Gujarat minister apprised.

The advisory committee was attended by Minister of State for External Affairs, General V K Singh (retd) and other senior officials from Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Government of Gujarat.