Our CEO, Dr Poonam Gupta OBE, was invited to be a guest speaker at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, which took place on 8-10 January in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The PBD Convention provides an important platform for the Government to engage with the overseas Indian community and helps recognise its contribution to the development of India. This event is also crucial in showcasing Indian diaspora success stories, highlighting the invaluable impact of overseas ambassadors who are inspiring progress towards the inclusive development of India.
Poonam was a guest speaker for the conventions fifth plenary session “Harnessing the Potential of Women Diaspora Entrepreneurs Towards an Inclusive Approach to Nation Building”, where she was joined by the Indian Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman and fellow inspiring female entrepreneurs to share opinions and suggestions on the advancement of India.
Poonam commented, “The PBD Convention which takes place every two years, is crucial for the promotion of both the India diaspora community and India as a whole. The three-day event was very well organised throughout and attended by dignitaries from all across the globe. It was a privilege to share the stage with Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, sharing knowledge about the challenges of building a business with very little capital available.
The vibrant and wonderful city of Indore was acknowledged for being the cleanest city in India for the sixth year in a row last year, and it is evident as to why this beautiful city has continued to receive this accolade. I always enjoy visiting this great city, and it was inspiring to see a collective public effort to keep the city clean, despite its dense population.
I am optimistic that the positive conversations had at this year’s PBD Convention will help encourage and inspire change towards a more inclusive development of India. Bringing together diverse women entrepreneurs from all over the globe to share their ideas and experiences, will not only drive momentum for an inclusive growth in India, but will also motivate women to take the leap into entrepreneurship.”