External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will launch the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) in Gandhinagar on Wednesday with exhibitions to mark centenary of the return of India’s greatest NRI, Mahatma Gandhi, on January 9, 1915 to lead the nation’s Freedom Movement.

Swaraj and Patel will also open the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show as a prelude to the Seventh Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled for January 11 to 13.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the three-day event at a glittering function in which about 5,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) are expected to participate. Different states will put up exhibitions and pavilions to attract and interact with the NRIS and PIOs from their native places.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will woo NRIs and PIOs, particularly from his state, to make investments in the economic progress of India’s most populous state. Already, UP had bought space to put up banners and hoardings across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. On Tuesday, the Bihar Government also inserted advertisements in some local dailies, inviting NRIs and PIOs to invest in the “fastest growing” state.

Madhukar Jetley, Advisor to the UP Government on NRI Affairs, informed that the state had attracted investments to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore in the MSME sector during the last two years. Moreover, the state is poised to witness investments worth Rs 2.50 lakh crore on creating Metro transport facilities in five cities, including the capital Lucknow and Varanasi, the PM’s Lok Sabha constituency, in the next few years. The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is also investing Rs 10,000 crore in two phases to make UP the most connected state through the 4-G revolution, he said.

Besides, investments of $3.15 billion in transmission, $ 2.68 billion in distribution of power and $ 1.15 billion in renewable energy have been planned in Uttar Pradesh during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period. The NRIs from UP have also evinced interest in investing in healthcare schemes in that state. Among India’s Diaspora abroad, UP accounts for the maximum migrants at over 2.21 lakh registered people, mainly to nations like Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji and Mauritius.

About some BJP activists allegedly “removing” UP’s hoardings, Jetley asked why was not the UP Chief Minister welcome in a state that had greeted China’s President Xi Jinping recently.

To mark the centenary of the Mahatma’s return, the State Government has established a permanent exhibition, "Salt Mound" on Gandhi's life journey at Mahatma Mandir in the capital. The second day of PBD will be marked with a programme on cultural diversity of India. Also, a play on life of Gandhiji and his role in the Independence Movement will be screened at Sabarmati River front on the last day.

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