New Delhi: Guyanese President Bharat Jagdeo today (Jan 8, 2004) said he looked forward to participating in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, beginning in New Delhi tomorrow (Jan 9, 2004).

"I am looking forward to participating in the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas," Jagdeo, who is the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, told reporters on the forecourt of Rasthrapati Bhavan.

He was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and others.

Currently there are about 3,95,250 Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) in Guyana and are descendants of Indians who had gone to this Latin American nation about 155 years ago.

During his stay, Jagdeo would also meet Indian leaders including Kalam and Vajpayee.