The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas opened on Friday... not with a bang, but on a very measured business-like note. If the previous two events were more about culture, this one edged on business and investment. As the pravasis and the desis do their networking, rediff.com caught the buzz at various venues of the meet. 

Setting the tone for the event were the words of Finance Minister P Chidambaram... 

"The government believes the NRIs are no more 'non-resident Indians' but they are 'non-resident investors' for India."

The pravasis speak back

The conference is a great forum to air ideas, share information and networking. From being known as the land of the snake charmer and begging bowls, India is now known as a land of fast talking people and math wizards.

The only country where NRIs cannot succeed is India!

Last year, we saw a Muslim President ushering in a Sikh PM, who was led to the position by a catholic. This is the India we can be proud of.

-- Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, United Nations.

PBD is a great venue to meet people, friends and exchange ideas. There has been a lot enthusiasm among the people. Though people are positive about investment in India. I wonder whether this will translate into investment.

All these years India has been working on obsolete processes set in by the British, now we are computerising the process in the name of e-governance. What we need is major, judicial, political and administrative reforms.

-- Sam Pitroda, chairman World Tel.

PBD is an excellent forum. It is getting better every year.

As we deal with insurance, I hope the insurance cap is increased to 49-50 per cent. I feel great to be a part of the successful Indian diaspora.

-- Rumi M Sanjana [Images], CEO & director, VIG International Ltd.

It is incredible that one third of Indians live on less than a dollar a day. There must be speedy reforms. Indians have succeeded all over the world. They will come a day when UK will have an Indian prime minister.

-- Karan Bilmoria, CEO, Cobra Beer.

Wherever I went people only reminded me of my failures. They never said anything about my success. We have to show the world that our primary export is not only Bollywood. Wherever you go, you will look Indian, feel Indian.

-- Vijay Amritraj, president, First Serve entertainment, USA.

Two thirds of the 1.2 million people in Mauritius are Indians. Indians are making their mark in a very substantial way. India is emerging as the third largest economy in the world.

-- A R Bundhun, Vice president, Mauritius.

Malaysia sees a great future in India. We have always been interested to invest in India and will continue to invest more in India.

-- S Samy Velu, minister of works, government of Malaysia.

I feel proud to be the only India-born woman to be a member of the European Parliament. I refused to accept second class treatment. It was my voice against racial discrimination that has brought me to this stage. There should be more movement in the political front to bring about major changes.