The Centre will set up a Global Advisory Council for Persons of Indian Origin.

Announcing this while delivering the inaugural address of the sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday, the prime minister said the council would comprise persons of Indian origin from all walks of life across the globe.

The prime minister said, "We in India take pride in the achievements of the people of Indian origin in different parts of the world. I am particularly happy at the strides made by Indra Nooyi, Sunita Williams [Images], Kalpana Chawla [Images] and Jhumpa Lahiri."

Singh said the ambitious growth rate that India was seeking to achieve would require determined efforts.

"The bulk of resources for India's development must come from home, but it is our sincere desire to create a framework which will provide profitable opportunities for overseas Indians to invest in India's development. It is also our desire to benefit from the vast reservoir of technological, managerial and entrepreneurial skills represented by overseas Indian communities which we seek to encourage in every possible way," he said.

Singh said that the government had approved a policy for the framework of a PIO University in India for the benefit of children of overseas Indians. The autonomous  university would be established in a private-public partnership, he said.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs started a nationwide skill upgradation training programme for potential migrant workers.

"The scheme targets training for nearly 2 lakh emigrant workers over the 11th plan period. This will help create a strong cadre of highly skilled workers who will then be best placed to fill the large supply gaps emerging in the West," he said.

The PM also announced the launch of an overseas workers resource centre which will provide relevant information and assistance to potential migrant workers and also operate a multi-lingual help-line for the grievance redressal and interventions for overseas workers in distress.

Besides, the government also approved the setting up of the council for the promotion of overseas employment to serve as a strategic think tank.

The PM said that an India Development Foundation, an autonomous non-profit trust, is being examined by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

The PM also thanked the Indian community in the US for the efforts made by them to mobilise support of the Indo-US nuclear deal.