Toronto, March 28 (IANS) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) will hold a roundtable on business opportunities in India during the mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here in June.
"To boost India's emerging strategic and business relationship, we will hold a round-table in which the CII and ASSOCHAM will participate. There will also be a smaller session on cooperation in small and medium industries between the two countries," Didar Singh, secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, told IANS during a visit here.
Singh, who was here to outline the programme for the two-day event from June 9, said the theme of this year's mini-Parvasi Bharatiya Divas is 'Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for the Indian Diaspora'.
Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, will open the mini-Parvasi Bharatiya Divas.
"Through this event, we aim to build bridges between the diaspora and India, between Canada and India, and between the diasporas in North America and the Caribbean," he said.
Singh said it would be the biggest gathering of the diaspora in North America.
"We expect 700 to 1,000 delegates. There will also be entrepreneurs and business people from Canada and India," the Indian official said.
Besides the diaspora, he said, the focus of the Toronto event will be on youth. "There will be a special session on the diaspora youth which is of special interest to us in India. We want to connect the second- and third-generation diaspora youth with India."
The government of Ontario province has agreed to support the event, he added.
A gala dinner and a cultural evening by artists from India will open the event June 9.
"There will also be a special fashion show to showcase the link of traditional Indian garments with modern trends," Singh said.
He said Toronto was chosen for the fifth mini-PBD because of its huge Indian diaspora and on-going Year of India in Canada.
"We felt that doing the diaspora event during the year-long celebrations will add to the showcasing of India. The event will also reflect on the growing strategic relationship between our two countries."