Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010654500700.htm

National

Chennai chapter of forum for overseas Indians soon

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International will launch its Chennai chapter when its annual convention gets under way here on Tuesday.

The two-day event will feature distribution of community service awards by Union Minister for Statistics G. K. Vasan and a discussion of issues of critical nature.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi is the chief guest on the opening day.

The GOPIO is active in 25 countries across the world, said Inder Singh, president. By custom, GOPIO holds its convention immediately before the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to allow delegates to participate in both events. The latter is to be launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.

GOPIO, which represents Indians holding passports of their host country overseas (unlike NRIs who continue to hold Indian passports), serves as a bridge between Indians abroad and the Centre, says ‘Americai’ V. Narayanan, who is chairman of the Chennai event.