The Indian Diaspora is the largest in the world to day after China and has roots in every country in the globe. The Diaspora contribution to their state of origin has been made in various ways, through remittances, foreign direct investment (FDI), transfer of knowledge and entrepreneurial networks. 

In order to expand the entrepreneurial ties and engage them as partners in India’s progress, an Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, a not for profit public private initiative of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was launched on 28^th May 2007.  

With a strong intention to facilitate and bridge the gap between the Overseas Indians and India, OIFC has a mandate to cover broad areas: investment facilitation, knowledge networking and ensuring business-to-business partnerships in focus sectors like real estate, wealth management, taxation, legal, healthcare, education and infrastructure. 

The key objectives of OIFC are:

• Promote and create awareness of OIFC to the Indian Diaspora
• Promote overseas Indian investment into India and facilitate business partnership by giving authentic & real time information
• Establish and maintain a Diaspora Knowledge Network by creating a database of Overseas Indians
• Function as a clearing house for all investment related information
• Assist States to project and promote investment opportunities to overseas Indians in key focus sectors.

In line with the above objectives, OIFC provides the following services:  

• To appraise the Indian Diaspora with the up-to-date investment opportunities existing in India provide hand-holding services via its knowledge partners
• To provide customized services in the form of finding sector and state specific investment projects, preparing feasibility reports and organizing and assisting in overseas road shows to attract FDI
• To assist in effective business-to-business partnerships
• To maintain a strong Diaspora Knowledge Network
• To provide consular services in the long run

As one of its first endeavors overseas, OIFC had organized a Market Place in Singapore in October followed by an Investor Interactive Meet in Oman. Over the next one year, OIFC will organize a series of Investor Interactive Meets (in association with the Indian states and India Inc) overseas in 8-targeted regions in order to facilitate investments from the Diaspora into India. The regions identified are as follows: 

• Canada-Vancouver and Toronto
• UK- London, Manchester and Birmingham
• Netherlands- Amsterdam
• USA- New York, San Francisco, Chicago
• South Africa- Durban
• Middle East- Dubai, Abu Dhabi
• Australia- Sydney and Melbourne
• Malaysia- Kuala Lumpur

For further details log on to our website, www.oifc.in or contact  Harmit Singh SethiChief Executive OfficerOverseas Indian Facilitation Center C/o Confederation of Indian Industry249-F, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar, Phase IVGurgaon – 122015, Haryana, India Tel:    +91-124-4014055Fax:    +91-124-4309446Email: harmit.sethi@ciionline.orgWeb :   www.oifc.in