2021 Indiaspora government leaders list recognises over 200 public officials of Indian heritage in senior government positions

Washington, D.C., San Francisco, CA, United States, February 18: (ANI/BusinessWire India):
, a nonprofit community of global Indian diaspora leaders from various backgrounds and professions, held a launch event on February 15 to kick off the release of their 2021 Indiaspora government leaders List recognizing public officials of the Indian diaspora who are leaders in their countries' governments.
The
included a conversation with honorees from the List: U.S. Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia; Ambassador NiermalaBadrising, Suriname's Ambassador to the U.S. and formerly Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Lord Dolar Popat, Member of the House of Lords and the U.K. Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Aparna Pande, Director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at Hudson Institute.
"It is an honor to be included on the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List. As the longest-serving Indian-American Member of Congress, I am proud to be a leader in the Indian American community, which has become an integral part of American life and society," said Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia.
Drawing from government websites and other publicly available resources, the
recognizes more than 200 leaders of Indian heritage who have ascended to the highest echelons of public service in 15 countries across the globe, with more than 60 of these leaders holding Cabinet positions.
"It is a huge source of pride to have the first woman and first person of color as the Vice President of the world's oldest democracy be someone of Indian heritage. We wanted to use this seminal moment on Presidents' Day to highlight a host of others in the diaspora who also is in public service," said Indiaspora Founder MR Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and investor. "These leaders are building a legacy for future generations, and one that extends beyond our community to all of the constituents and communities that they serve."
The List also includes diplomats, legislators, heads of central banks, and senior civil servants from countries with significant histories of diaspora migration, such as Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
With more than 32 million people of Indian origin or (PIOs) globally, according to
, Indians are the largest diaspora population in the world.
The officials on the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List collectively represent more than 587 million constituents, and their countries account for an estimated USD $28 trillion in GDP, demonstrating the impact that these leaders are having globally.
"It truly is inspiring to note the remarkable contribution that government leaders of Indian heritage have made to advance the societies that they now represent," said Rosy Akbar, Fiji's Minister of Education, Heritage, and Arts. "For a sizable segment of the population, it is government policy addressing social injustices that lead to a transformative path of sustainable socio-economic progress."
The List includes immigrants from India, as well as professionals born in countries such as Singapore, South Africa, England, Canada, and the U.S.
"As a proud Indo-Canadian, it is an honor to be included in the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List alongside an accomplished and diverse group of leaders from the India diaspora," said Senator RatnaOmidvar. "I am eternally proud of my Indian heritage but also being Canadian. Canada has given me its protection and its opportunities, and in return, I am committed to making it a better place so that it continues to be a land of protection and opportunity for future Canadians."
While some of the officials are part of their country's first wave of immigration, arriving as refugees or for economic opportunities, others serving in their governments are part of subsequent waves of diaspora, who came for educational opportunities or are of subsequent generations.
"It is inspiring to see the number of Indian diasporas who are entering the public arena," said Indiaspora Board Member Arun Kumar, Chairman, and CEO at KPMG India, who served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Obama administration. "Having had the opportunity to serve, I can speak to what a memorable and fulfilling experience it was. Above all, it was a meaningful way to give back. My hope is that this cohort of leaders will set an example for even more of the Indian diaspora to aspire to public service."
For additional resources, including information and news about the honorees, and additional quotes from officials, please visit the
.
The Indiaspora Lists highlight the advances of the Indian diaspora and raise their profile in the global consciousness in areas such as government, business, academia, and philanthropy.
The second of the Indiaspora Lists, the inaugural
, released in July 2020, featured the Indian diaspora who are leading the largest global companies--CEOs, Presidents, or Chairpersons of the Board of Directors.
Indiaspora (
) is a nonprofit community of powerful global Indian leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions who are committed to inspiring the diaspora to be a force for positive impact by providing a platform to collaborate, engage, and catalyze social change.
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