India is committed to engage with the young Diaspora for its empowered global presence. Addressing the pre-inaugural session of the 9th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi today, the minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr.Vayalar Ravi said, the government is all set to have an increased interaction with the global Indian youth for sustained development in various sectors.Delivering the keynote address, the Human Resource Development, Telecom and Science and Technology minister Mr. Kapil sibal asserted that India is the land of new opportunities post liberalisation in 1991.He said ,development goals could be achieved through collaborations and here the role of Diaspora becomes very important. Asking the Diaspora to invest in India, Mr. Sibbal said,in the changed world economic order ,it is through the collaboration of mind that the joint goals could be achieved.Identifying education as the key to India's future, Mr. Sibal said in the next 15-20 years, the country will have to produce at least 250 million graduates and 500 million skilled workers to sustain high growth rate and to become one of the top nations in the world. The minister said currently only 12.4 per cent of the total 220 million school going children reach college and government aims to increase the percentage to 30 by 2020.Speaking at another function at the venue, Information and Technology Advisor to the Prime Minister Sam Pitroda urged the diaspora to invest in the sector of broadband connections. Mr. Pitroda said that there is a huge investment opportunity in IT sector given the fact that 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats are to be networked through fiber optics, platforms, servers and other applications for inclusive growth. The connectivity will not only improve delivery of government schemes but will also empower people Favouring a health care model for India different from that of the West, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi asked the Diaspora to form a think tank for formulating a roadmap for the country's medical needs. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Engaging the Global Indian’. Our correspondent reports, about 1,500 delegates from 51 countries are participating in the three-day annual convention for overseas Indians. The event will be officially inaugurated tomorrow by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. New Zealand governor-general Anand Satyanand will be the chief guest. The participating delegates will also have an opportunity to interact with three senior members of the Indian cabinet – Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Roads and Highways Minister Kamal Nath. The annual C.K. Prahalad memorial lecture will be delivered on the subject of inclusive growth by Gautam Ahuja, chairperson, Corporate Strategy and International Business group, University of Michigan Business School. The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory address on Sunday and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards at the closing session.