PIOs, NRIs should capitalise on India's youth: Min

People of Indian Origin and NRIs should tap the country's huge youth potential to create valuable knowledge links that can catapulate the country into a global innovation hub, Union Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal has said.

"India has a large and an impressive stock of young human resources and high level professional diaspora creating valuable knowledge linkages," Sibal said.

"The young human resource base is ready to usher India into a global economy and a power to reckon with. India's fast growing economy offers opportunities to invest not only because of emotional reasons but as it offers well established political system ensuring safe investment," he said.

"India has all the necessary ingredients put in place for catapulting it as a global innovation hub of the future," he said, addressing the valedictory session of the 35th NRI 2007

on 'Strengthening the Bonds' in New Delhi on Thursday.

India offers an opportunity for NRIs and PIOs to tap into India's huge competent human resource base, Sibal said.

"All of them throughout the world should look towards the land of their origin to bring not only their money but their hearts too," he said.

"Indian professionals settled abroad are returning back in large numbers due to the kind of opportunities available here at this point of time," he said. He also presented the Pravasi Awards to eminent NRIs and PIOs for their contribution in various fields on a global platform.

British High Commissioner to India Michael Arthur said last year India has become the second biggest investor after US replacing Japan.