Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao has urged the expat community for greater participation in the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) 2015 to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, marking the 100th year of his return to India from abroad.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-resident Indian Day) is celebrated on Jan. 9 every year to mark the contribution of the expat community in the development of India.

Rao said: “The 13th edition of the PBD convention will be organized from Jan. 7-9, 2015, at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event has been organized to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India to join the freedom struggle, lending greater significance to the convention.”

Rao requested all Indian nationals living in the Kingdom to participate in the convention in greater numbers.

The convention also provides a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of their homeland and share their experiences in various fields in different parts of the world.

The convention provides an opportunity for discussing key issues related to Indians working in the Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom hosts 2.5 million Indian passport holders, the largest chunk of Indian expatriates abroad.

Individuals of exceptional merit will be honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards during the convention.

Established in 2003, the PBD is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of India.