Malaysian Minister for Natural Resources and Environment G Palanivel, who is president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), is to be chief guest at the Jan 7-9 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi.
This was announced by Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi here Thursday.
The PBD is the world’s largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at enhancing networking and reinforcing commercial linkages.
There are 25 million people of Indian origin residing outside India and Malaysia has one of the largest constituents of Indian diaspora after the United States.
Formed in 1946, the MIC is one of the oldest political parties in Malaysia. Ethnic Indians comprise a little over seven per cent of Malaysia’s total population of nearly 30 million.
Palanivel had led a 220-member strong delegation to the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013.