HISTORY AND FORMATION OF GOPIO
There are over 20 million people of Indian origin (PIO) living outside India. With this large group of people, a new global community of Indian origin has been developed. Most of the people of Indian origin have become highly successful in business and the profession. If their professional expertise and financial resources are to be pooled together, it will benefit not only people of Indian origin but also their countries and India. In addition, people of Indian origin could assume a new role in providing help in case of crisis to their communities around the world.
With these objectives in mind, the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) organized the First Global Convention of PIOs in New York on August 28 – Sept. 3, 1989. This convention provided an opportunity for sharing the experience of international Indian communities on a common forum and to foster harmony with a feeling of brotherhood and fellowship amongst the PIOs. Attended by over 3000 delegates, the convention identified and discussed problems facing people of Indian origin. It also provided necessary forum at the national and international level to voice their concerns. For the first time, a book on Migration of Indians Around the World was published at the convention where twenty six resolutions pertaining to the various issues and interests of the community were adopted. GOPIO was formed at this convention.
OBJECTIVES OF GOPIO INTERNATIONAL
GOPIO is a non-partisan, secular global organization engaged in promoting the well being of People of Indian Origin, enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries. With this perspective some specific objectives of GOPIO are:
-To promote the interests and aspirations of the Indian communities around the world and of specific groups residing in various countries of their adoption.
-To promote common cultural heritage and therefore create a binding relationship.
-To mobilize financial, intellectual and professional resources of Indians abroad for their mutual development and advancement.
-To encourage interaction between communities of Indians abroad on a global level to deliberate and decide on common issues and problems facing them including education and technology.
-To further the interaction between PIOs and other communities at the global level in promoting world peace, progress and ecological harmony