Washington: India is exploring the possibility of investment by Non-Resident Indians (NRI) in some infrastructure projects of the country, S K Krishna Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said in Washington today (Oct 29, 2004).

The investment envisaged from various sources for these projects is $ 150 billion, he told reporters in Washington.

Kumar also noted that overseas Indians have evinced a strong interest in philanthropic and charitable activities.

"There is a very large and successful non-Governmental sector in India. Some of the overseas Indians have already taken the initiative in this regard. Some overseas Indians have already been involved in such activities in India for many years," he said and expressed the hope that this would snowball into such areas as education, health and village development.

Stressing that he wanted people in India and the overseas Indians to "bond with each other," he said cultural focus-exchanges between India and the overseas Indian community in dance, drama, music and so on is important.

"We should also have some kind of internship programme or organization like an India Corps or something of that nature," he said.

"We can set up a counterpart institution in India."

The dual nationality scheme, he said, has been approved but the process of issuing will probably take till the next financial year.