The Hindu Business Line : Nod soon for overseas Indian professionals to practise here

Opening doors: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs and Mr Ramdien Sardjoe, Vice-President of Surinam, during the inaugural session of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai on Thursday. —

Our Bureau

Chennai, Jan.8 India will soon allow overseas Indian professionals to practise in India, announced the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Addressing the inaugural of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – 2009, the Prime Minister said that OCI (Overseas Indian Citizens) card holders who are qualified professionals — doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, architects and chartered accountants — would be able to practise their professions here. The details of the scheme are being worked out.

The decision follows the overwhelming response to the Overseas Indian Citizenship scheme announced in 2006.

Dr Singh also launched the Global Indian Knowledge Network, a portal to connect people of Indian origin in a variety of disciplines to users here at the national, state and local levels.

This is to facilitate knowledge transfer and act as a virtual think-tank on development, education and healthcare.

7% Growth rate

Despite the global economic downturn, the economic fundamentals are strong and the growth rate is expected to be around 7 per cent. Much of the growth is internally driven and “I expect we can maintain a strong pace of growth in the coming years,” he said.

India is active in the meetings of G-20 countries deliberating on the creation of a new global financial architecture. The new architecture should not only be suited to the challenges and vulnerabilities of the world economy but also reflect the changes that have happened in the economic structure. Countries like India should be given their due place in the scheme of things.

The Prime Minister reiterated India’s support for the “just Palestine cause” and strongly condemned the Gaza attacks in which innocent lives were lost. India hopes that the international community gets together to restore peace in the region, he said.

Thrust on security

The recent attacks in Mumbai were a grim reminder of the grave threat posed by extremism and terrorism to India’s pluralistic and liberal traditions. National security has been strengthened and India will work with the international community to ensure there are no safe havens and launch pads for terrorism, he said.

Dr Singh lauded the role of people of Indian origin in supporting development here. The Indian community in the US had played a key role in lifting the restrictions to end India’s nuclear isolation. The role of the Indian origin communities is growing in shaping public policy and opinion across the world.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, said extremism, violence and the global economic downturn were major concerns now. India has a significant role to play in tackling these issues. India, along with China, holds the key to the revival of the global economy. Tamil Nadu is among the hubs of growth in India. It has attracted over Rs 32,100 crore of foreign investments and generated over 1.95 lakh jobs, he said.

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