Indian-American IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath, Norwegian MP Himanshu Gulati and South African diplomat Anil Sooklal were among 30 NRIs, Indian-origin people and their organisations named for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award Wednesday.
President Ram Nath Kovind, who gave the valedictory address on the third and final day of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, presented the awards at a grand event here.
Though most awardees were present to receive the honour, three among them, including Gopinath, were not present for the event.
The award is the highest honour conferred by the President of India as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions on a Non Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) or organisation or institution established and run by NRIs or PIOs.
Apart from 28 people, two organisations -- Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and Indian Community Association in Egypt -- were also awarded for their work in community service.
Kovind, in his address, said India today is a land of billion ideas and opportunities.
Addressing the NRIs and the people of Indian-origin, he said: "I invite each one of you to become a part of India's growth story which is being etched by its billion minds. We want to leverage your technology, knowhow and investment to power our Make in India, Digital India, Clean India and Skill India programmes."
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