The role of overseas Indians in the country's emergence as a global power will be the main theme of the seventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held in Chennai from January 7 next year.

The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and President Pratibha Patil [Images] will address the concluding session of the three-day meet.

During the annual meet, the Diaspora's role in India's emergence as a global power will be the focus of deliberations. The congregation of Persons of Indian Origin and NRIs will also dwell upon aspects like preservation of language and culture and health concerns of Indian Diaspora.

Regional working sessions of the Diaspora residing in the Gulf, Asia-Pacific, Africa, USA, Europe, Caribbean and Canada [Images] will be organised.

A special trade and industry exhibition during the event with corporate, state governments, NGOs and financial institutions as participants will also be held as part of the convention, an official statement said.

Last year, more than 1,500 participants from 50 countries had attended the meet being organised by the Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs.