Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra is hoping to obtain travel and accommodation subsidies for local businesspeople to help offset costs to attend one of the biggest expositions in India next year.

He said it was hoped that the subsidies could be provided for businesspeople to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) exposition in New Delhi next year.

Mishra said since Trinidad and Tobago had the largest Indian population in the Caribbean, he hoped to encourage the local Indian diaspora to participate in the event.

The two-day meeting ends with 15 awards presented to Indians who have made positive contributions.

Former awardees include Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday and the National Council of Indian Culture president Deokinanan Sharma.

Mishra said the Indian government also promised to subsidise the registration costs by 50 per cent as an added incentive to encourage local attendees.

He said since the inception of the PBD eight years ago, the convention has achieved major strides in improving the communication and networking for people belonging to the Indian diaspora throughout the world. He was speaking at a news conference at the Indian High Commission in Port of Spain yesterday.

’The formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) and conceptualisation of the People of Indian Origin (PIO) University were some of the outcomes of the Pravasi,’ Mishra said.

He said the OCI assisted with land ownership for families outside India, provision of study and professional facilities for the PIOs.

Deosaran Bisnath, president of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, Trinidad and Tobago (GOPIOTT), the local chapter of GOPIO International, is also inviting members of the public to take part in a three-week tour of India following the conference dates.

Mishra said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is also in the process of organising the fourth annual India-Latin American and Caribbean Conclave next February, also in New Delhi. This conference will discuss the business opportunities and project partnerships between India and Latin America in the fields of agriculture, agribusiness and food processing, irrigation, telecommunication and energy.