New Delhi: In a bid to woo NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), India is all set to showcase its achievements in the field of Information Technology, science, education and culture at the second "Pravasi Divas", to be held in New Delhi in January next year.

"While the convention will showcase business opportunities, financial services and investment areas, the focus would be on education, culture, science and technology," according to Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, J C Sharma.

The stress would also be on the younger generation of the Indian diaspora, Sharma said, adding, to encourage their participation, a two-month internship programme before the convention is being planned in India for 20 students, two each from 10 prominent destinations across the globe.

Besides youth, special focus would also be on health, legal sectors, tourism infrastructure and Information Technology. The three-day convention beginning January 9 next year, aims to understand the issues affecting the Indian workers and professionals abroad.

It would also help understand the sentiments of NRIs/PIOs about India and crate a policy framework for a sustained and productive growth. It would create a network of the Indian diaspora across 110 countries of the world, Sharma said.

The Indian government has declared January 9th as Indian Diaspora Day as Mahatma Gandhi had returned to India from South Africa on the same day in 1915.

The global community of NRIs and PIOs (People of Indian Origin) is 20 million strong. It is growing at about 10 per cent per year and represents the largest diaspora in the world, after China.

"India's engagement with its diaspora at the first Pravasi Divas in January this year has generated a new sense of enthusiasm and expectation. Both India and the diaspora have promises to keep... the second such convention aims at sustaining and enriching this progress," Sharma said.

Over 2,000 PIOs and NRIs from over 70 countries including the Gulf nations are expected to gather in New Delhi for the meet to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Sharma said a fashion extravaganza, "Shringar", showcasing India's rich heritage, is also being planned as part of the conference. There would also be a colourful presentation of India's capability in textiles and apparel, embroidery, accessories, jewellery and cosmetics.

To celebrate Indian culture, a programme featuring artists of Indian diaspora from across the world is also being organised. An exhibition, which would act as an exclusive platform for both Indian and foreign exhibitors to showcase their products, would be held, Sharma said.

PTI