Mini PBDs are essentially Regional PBDs organized to reach out to a vast majority of our diaspora, who for various reasons, are unable to attend the main event in India and benefit from its deliberations. This is in response to a strong and persistent demand for holding such events regionally.

PBD-New York
The first mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was jointly organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Confederation of Indian Industry and Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre on 23rd September, 2007 at New York, as part of the India@60 event. The central theme for PBD-New York was ‘Engaging the Diaspora: The way Forward’. This was subsequently carried-over as the theme for PBD-2008 and it has since been decided that this will be the central theme to anchor-on for all future PBDs.

PBD-Singapore
A mini PBD titled ‘PBD Singapore’ was organized on 9-11 October 2008 in Singapore in partnership with the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and support of the Government of Singapore. The tagline for the event was “PBD Singapore : Towards a Dynamic Indian Diaspora”.

The tagline for the event was “PBD Singapore: Towards a Dynamic Diaspora”. Plenary sessions were planned on: “India : Scenarios for the Next Generation”, “Sustainable Development”, and “Asia Pacific Diaspora – Towards a Dynamic Diaspora” while concurrent sessions were held on “Science & Technology : from Lab to Market”, “Tourism & Hospitality”, “Finance & Banking”, “Youth & Education”, “Arbitration & Business Dispute Resolution – The Way Forward” and “Infrastructure – Access, Connectivity & Growth”.

Prominent among those also who attended the Mini PBD were the following Singapore dignitaries: Mr S R Nathan, President, Mr Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister, Professor S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor and Mr. S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State. Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius and Datuk Dr S Subramaniam Sathasivam, Minister of Human Resources, Malaysia were also among the other foreign dignitaries who attended the Mini PBD. From India, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Earth Science and Science & Technology attended the Mini PBD.