World Tamil Economic Conference and Tamil Diaspora Meet in Chennai
Tamil people (also called Tamils, Tamilans or Tamilians), are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, a state in India and the northeastern region of Sri Lanka.
Tamil Diaspora Conference Website Launch
They predominantly speak Tamil, with a recorded history going back two millennia. Emigrant communities are found across the world. The Tamils are mostly Hindus with sizable Christian and Muslim populations. Tamil Jains form a small minority. Now they live in all the continents and in almost every country around the world.
With a view to bring together the Tamil Diaspora, a World Tamil Economic Conference and Tamil Diaspora Meet - 2009 will be held on 6th and 7th of January at Hotel Taj Coramondal at Chennai, India. Several Ministers from the Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and other foreign Governments will be special guests at the conference. The speakers at the conference will include top ranking personalities in Government, business and other fields, from India and other countries.
The main aim of this conference is to bring the Tamils of the world together so that they can provide support and guidance to one another and utilize the potential that is waiting to be tapped. It will also provide a platform for State holder to discuss the present economic situation in the world. There will be an ongoing exhibition during the two days of the conference. Those who are interested in exhibiting their products/services are requested to get in touch with the Conference Secretariat.
Aimed at organizing a forum for the “Tamils of the world” for their economic advancement and development and establish support network, the event is to promote globalization and economic opportunities for Tamil entrepreneurs from different parts of the world - for closer co-operation and partnerships; to share practical, actionable and innovative insights from successful Tamil business leaders who have made a large impact with their expertise and pursuits and to establish “Tamil Chambers of Commerce” in different countries
Star speakers, prominent leaders, ministers, business leaders, CEOs of companies will address the Conference. The names would be announced shortly. In addition to government officials and business leaders, Dr. Sambath said, “Those who are doing business with the Tamil community in the world and our Indian brothers and sisters are welcome to share their experiences as a delegate.”
An award known as Ulaga Tamil Mamani will be conferred on foreign Tamils, based on their contribution towards better understanding abroad of Tamil Nadu and support to Tamil Nadu and Tamils all over the world. While choosing the winners, focus will be on their significant contribution for the welfare of Tamils all over the world with notable contribution on charitable work, social work humanitarian work towards Tamils.
The Government of India has been organizing every year on January 8th and 9th an Indian Diaspora meet at New Delhi and other important cities in India. The Indian Diaspora community, after spending two days in Delhi, visit their own respective states and the local state governments support and host state level events during this time. This year the ministry of Overseas Indian affairs, Government of India has decided to organize the Indian Diaspora meet at Chennai on 8th and 9th January 2009.
Tamil is one of the classical languages like Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Chinese and Arabic and the oldest spoken Indian language. The Tamil community is one of the oldest in the world and they are spread all over the world.
Tamilnadu (the land of the Tamils) is one of the southern states of India, having always enjoyed a pride of place in India, be it before independence or after. The Tamils have looked beyond the state for opportunities and have traveled to distant places to improve their lifestyle, some settling down in their new homes. Before Indian independence, they went mostly as workers, but after 1947, they have been travelling for higher education, white-collar jobs and resettlement. In nearby Sri Lanka, there are Tamils who have migrated from India as well as Sri Lankan Tamils. Thus we find a large population of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, and even France. The past 20 years have also seen a large influx of Sri Lankan Tamils into Western Europe and North America, because of ethnic problems there. The Tamils are so predominant in countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia that Tamil has been recognized as one of the official languages in these countries.
Though the Tamil population in several countries earlier consisted mostly of the working class, several Tamils have now established themselves as professionals and entrepreneurs but the numbers of these are still low. The main aim of this conference is to bring the Tamils of the world together, so that they can provide support and guidance to one another and utilize the potential that is waiting to be tapped. “We need to organize in Chennai something similar and invite the Tamil and Indian Diaspora community, local Tamils and other Tamil communities to participate in the Tamil Diaspora Meet and share their knowledge with one another,” said Dr. V.R.S.Sampath, Convener of the Conference. “Hence we are organizing a Tamil Diaspora Meet on 6th and 7th January 2009, along with the World Tamils Economic Conference.
If you want any assistance for your travel and accommodation, you can get in touch with their office. If you are interested to speak in the conference, send your delegate registration form duly filled up at the earliest. Visit website www.economic-conference. com for more information.
BY YOGESH KARIKURVE
