New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the brain drain can be converted into "brain gain" if the nation started looking at the 27-million strong Indian diaspora spread across the world as a strength rather than numbers.

"Brain drain worries can be converted into brain gain if we see the Indian diaspora as a strength rather than counting them just as numbers," Modi said after inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, a state-of-the-art complex dedicated to overseas Indians.

He said the world was more keen now than earlier "to engage with India".

"In such times 'fear of unknown' can be an obstacle. Our diaspora can help overcome this. They just have to tell the world that we belong to India," he said.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need to connect with the diaspora and hailed his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee who "coined idea of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and it has been continued since then".

The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra located in south Delhi's Chanakyapuri will serve as the focal point of the institutional framework to benefit from networks with and among overseas Indians.

The centre is expected to develop into the hub of activities for sustainable, symbiotic and mutually rewarding economic, social and cultural engagement between India and its Diaspora.

Among other facilities, the complex has a library, research centre, flexible capacity meeting rooms, cultural centre, auditorium of 500 capacity, 24 guest rooms, business centres and restaurant.