New Delhi, Dec 20: One of the oldest Indian diaspora-led organisations, the Foundation for Critical Choices for India (FCCI), on Friday reached out to the Government of India, offering its expertise and global research capabilities to support evidence-based policymaking aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The outreach came as FCCI inaugurated the first day of its two-day International Diaspora Conference at the India Habitat Centre, bringing together policymakers, government representatives, sectoral experts and Indian diaspora leaders from across the world. The conference focused on how India can accelerate its transformation into a developed nation by 2047, the centenary year of Independence.
Addressing the forum, FCCI leaders underlined the organisation’s readiness to partner with Indian institutions in research, strategic thinking and global best-practice inputs for policymaking. The discussions revolved around the central theme of how the 35-million-strong Indian diaspora can play a decisive role in India’s development journey.
Dr Pramod Agrawal, Vice President of FCCI and CEO of SaXcell Ltd, highlighted the economic and intellectual strength of the diaspora.
“The Indian diaspora is larger than the population of most countries, and the remittances they send exceed the GDP of many nations. As highly skilled and entrepreneurial global citizens, we recognise both our responsibility and our privilege to contribute meaningfully to India’s future,” he said.
Member of Parliament Vamsi Krishna Gaddam, representing Peddapalli in Telangana, said the diaspora acts as India’s informal global ambassador.
“Their engagement supports technology, sustainability and green growth. With progressive policies and rising investor confidence, we are witnessing stronger FDI flows and even a reverse migration of professionals. It is a shared responsibility to project India’s capabilities and actively contribute to its growth story,” he noted.
The first day of the conference focused on “The Developed Nation (Viksit Bharat): Roadmap to India’s Future by 2047,” with sessions on economic acceleration, institutional reform, education, technology, defence and infrastructure.
Agricultural and rural concerns were also raised. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana) President Guni Prakash urged greater use of new-age technology in agriculture and dairy, pointing out that productivity still lags behind countries like Japan. From a global labour perspective, NRI Club Russia President Devdathan Nair observed that Russia’s demand for skilled manpower presents long-term opportunities for India in engineering, construction and allied sectors.
FCCI members noted that while the International Monetary Fund projects India to reach a USD 5 trillion economy by 2030, achieving developed-nation status would require scaling up to a USD 30 trillion economy. They stressed the need for improved urban-rural connectivity, digital cities and a more holistic healthcare approach that includes both physical and mental well-being.
Defence and cybersecurity also featured prominently, with speakers highlighting the growing importance of technological capabilities amid rising cyber threats and technology-driven military operations. The consensus was that India must better leverage its intellectual capital, particularly through its global diaspora, as warfare increasingly shifts from traditional arsenals to digital and technological dominance.
The second day of the conference will focus on “The New World Order: Democratic India’s Role as Global Consensus Builder,” examining India’s expanding influence in global governance, diplomacy and international development partnerships.