KUALA LUMPUR: Indian diaspora in Malaysia were encouraged to get at least five non-Indian friends here to visit India.

This humble call was voiced out by India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy after the launch of Global Diaspora Campaign – ‘CHALO INDIA’ in Kuala Lumpur, recently.

At the gathering watching virtually the launching by Prime Minsiter, Narendra Modi in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on March 7, he noted that it would be a great honour to see more Indians from Malaysia bringing along their friends from other races to India as part of tourism promotion.

Reddy firmly believe the strong relationship between Malaysia-India for decades would be another plus factor to further enhance the mission and benefit both nations interest.

“The launching of the Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign by our prime minister is to enable the Indian diaspora to become ‘Incredible India Ambassadors’, ” said Reddy.

The gathering attended by around 150 Indian diaspora members was organized by India’s High Commission in Malaysia dan was held at the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre in Brickfields.

He also mentioned that the campaign is organized by India’s Ministry of Tourism and emphasized that with more than 30 million overseas Indians, the Indian diaspora serves as a powerful catalyst for the Indian tourism industry, acting as India’s cultural ambassadors.

During the event, the Indian Prime Minister also unveiled a Chalo India website (chaloindia.gov.in).

The website will be open to Indian diaspora in phase to explore and register their interest from March 7, 2024 onwards.

At the event, Reddy also congratulated Datuk Pradip Kukreja, the president of Tara Foundation for leading a 10-member team on the Malaysia-Bharat Friendship Expedition covering 22 destinations in India over 37 days.

This marks the first group from Malaysia visiting India coinciding with the Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign.

Beside Kukreja, other guests invited were Prabhakaran Nair from the Malaysia India Heritage Society, Dato A. Aruldas, President, Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association (MITTA) and Mr N Murali, President, Bharat Club.