THE President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, yesterday conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to thirteen eminent overseas Indians from different walks of life and two overseas Indian Societies saying that the Indian Diaspora has made the country proud through the significant contributions that they have made to the development of the nations which they have chosen to make their homes.

Delivering the valedictory address at the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Mr Mukherjee said that India is the third largest economy in the world on the basis of Purchasing Power Parity basis, the second fastest growing economy after China growing at a rate above 8 per cent that has declined due to the slowdown in the global economy and other factors, from 8.4 per cent in 2010-11 to 6.5 per cent in 2011-12, and further to 5.4 per cent in the first half of 2012-13.

Mr Mukherjee said that India has set up a friendly regime to enable Indians abroad to remit money to the country. NRIs can deposit money in the country under the Non Resident External Rupee account scheme, Non Resident Ordinary Rupee account scheme and Foreign Currency Non Resident account Banks scheme. He added that Non Resident Keralites have been important agents in the State's promotion of sustainable development and socio-economic transformation. He said that meeting under the overall theme of “Engaging Diaspora-the Indian Growth Story” a wide-ranging and interesting discussions were held in various sessions such as the Seminar on NRIs in the Gulf; on Skill Development; on Heritage and Diaspora; on engaging the young Overseas Indians; on India's Growing Soft Power; and, on Science, Innovation and Technology.