Durban: Indians are top achievers around the world, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler told a gathering of People of Indian Origin (PIOs) in Durban. Tytler, who was addressing PIOs at the Indian Consul's office yesterday (Nov 18, 2004), said that Indians controlled "80 per cent of the software industries and the medical field in America, Canada and Britain".

"The top achievers at universities in America and Britain are Indians. The number two person at NASA is an Indian. By 2020 I want to say that India is going to be the most powerful intellectual country in the world. Can you name one country that provides one million software engineers to the world," he said.

Tytler, who arrived in South Africa on Wednesday (Nov 17, 2004) to invite PIOs to attend the third Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being organised from January 7-9, said that the Divas was an opportunity for people to share their values and make contacts with other PIOs and NRIs (Non Resident Indians) for the promotion of business opportunities.

"India does not want your money but we want you to attend the Pravasi to share your values with us," he said.

Tytler also said that there were opportunities for people to send their children to India to get educated because India today had many IT and management institutes.