President Ram Nath Kovind has said that Persons of Indian Origin, PIOs have enhanced the identity of India and of the Indian people all over the world. <br/><br/>Inaugurating the International Conference of PIO Parliamentarians in New Delhi this morning, Mr Kovind said, PIOs have remained true to Indian culture and retained a strong and commendable bond with their roots while living thousands of miles away. <br/><br/>He said, if Indian cuisine and Indian films have a global market today, it is because of the diaspora which has taken them to distant lands. <br/><br/>The President said, Indian diaspora has climbed to appreciable heights in almost all the countries where it has found a home and it has contributed to the well-being of that country and of that society, enriching the economy and adding to intellectual wealth and local culture. <br/><br/>He said, members of the Indian diaspora work hard on farms in countries as far apart as Italy, Bolivia and Tanzania and they are instrumental to the tech start-up ecosystem of Silicon Valley. Mr Kovind said, the global financial centres of New York, London and Singapore would simply not be the same without the Indian diaspora. <br/><br/>The President said, Government of India's engagement with PIO parliamentarians or with the wider Indian diaspora is not a transactional relationship or a zero-sum game. He said, India look upon the community and look upon PIO parliamentarians and elected and public representatives as a living bridge. <br/><br/>Mr Kovind said, they have a pivotal role in enhancing understanding between their countries and the country of their parents and ancestors which can help in building economic, people-to-people and strategic connections that will be of benefit to both countries.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>