About 1,200 overseas delegates from 50 countries are expected to participate in the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2006 to be held in Hyderabad from January 7.

Participating in the review meeting on arrangements for PBD with officials concerned, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy said that besides the foreign delegates, 550 VVIPs, 12 chief ministers will participate in the PBD which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images].

The PBD will culminate in the conferment of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards on 15 distinguished NRIs by President A P J Abdul Kalam on January 9.

Ahmed Khatrada, a contemporary of Nelson Mandela, will be the chief guest.

"Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh are rapidly emerging as the knowledge hub of India and the most favoured destination for investments in the old economy as well as the new," Dr Reddy said.

"We propose to showcase the enormous potential that Andhra offers to foreign investors in diverse sectors," he added.