Labour Leader at the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

[posted 22 Jan 2010,1200]

Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has just returned from participating at the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual convention of People of Indian Origin worldwide, held in New Delhi this year.

The three-day event is sponsored by the Government of India in conjunction with the Confederation of Indian Industries, and commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India on 9 January, 1915 after 22 years in South Africa struggling for the rights of people of Indian origin there.

While in New Delhi, Mr Chaudhry met with the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Hon Vayalar Ravi and paid courtesy calls on the Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Lal Krishna Advani and the BJP President,Nitin Gadkari.

He also met with Vijay Jolly, former member of the Delhi State Legislature, who is well known in Fiji through his export business connections.

Mr Chaudhry was one of the speakers at the Plenary Session II of the PBD which dealt with the interests and concerns of the Diaspora, and more specifically challenges faced by the Diaspora in interacting with India.

He spoke of the need for India to cultivate a higher profile in the South Pacific in line with her growing economic status.

Mahendra Chaudhry meets with India's Leader of the                                               Opposition Mrs Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi

He highlighted  opportunities available for Indian entrepreneurs to invest in Fiji particularly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, tourism, medical tourism, film production and the IT industry.

The 2010 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas saw Fiji businessman YP Reddy awarded the prestigious Government of India Samman Award in recognition particularly of his long and dedicated service to the Sangam Organisation in Fiji.

Mr Reddy is the third Fiji recipient of the award. Mr Chaudhry and Sir Moti Tikaram are the other two recipients.