The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebrations, all set to begin amid much fanfare in Bhubaneswar from 8 January, will provide Odisha an ideal opportunity to showcase what the state has to offer to the world in terms of its varied potential, said a senior official ahead of the event.

State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who supervised the preparation of the mega event at the venue at the Janata Maidan in the city, said “the State is well-prepared to welcome thousands of Non-Resident Indians and members of the Indian diaspora from across the world.”

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Odisha has a glorious history of age-old maritime connections with South-East Asia. The merchants, monks and travelers from Odisha have visited far-off places in South-East Asia. The maritime history of hoary past will be showcased in the event to attract NRIs’ participation for State’s overall economic growth,

The Bali Yatra and Odisha’s connections with Sri Lanka speak of these vibrant cultural ties. The PBD convention will illuminate these historical journeys and efforts underway to revive them.

Besides, the three-day PBD celebrations in Bhubaneshwar from January 8 will showcase the vibrancy of the Indian diaspora and their achievements abroad.

The venue of the PBD has been shifted to the Eastern part of the country for the first time by the Union Government. Such a step reinforces Centre’s commitment in taking forward its ‘Purvodaya’ project, conceived for the all-round development of the Eastern region comprising states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Centre through the Union Budget-2024 outlined the government’s decision to formulate a plan titled ‘Purvodaya’ to tap into the rich cultural traditions of the region to transform into economic hubs, in a bid to fasten the government’s goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The hosting of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha is in line with the government’s Purvodaya plan, which envisages a detailed and holistic roadmap for development of the region.

Odisha’s rich reserve of minerals and natural resources will go a long way in taking forward this mission. The state leads all its counterparts in fields like mining, iron and steel manufacturing, marine economy, sports, skilling and even knowledge economy. Several Indian IT companies have established bases in the state.