News
200 Indian-origin leaders hold top government positions in 15 countries
by S VENKAT NARAYAN,
Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI:
Two hundred Indian-origin leaders are holding top government positions in as many as 15 countries across the globe, according to a survey made by a US-based organisation.
They include five Heads of Government, three Deputy Heads of Government (US Vice-President Kamala Harris is one of them), 59 Cabinet Ministers, 79 Parliamentarians, 10 Ambassadors, two Consuls General, four Chief Justices, and four Heads of Central Banks in the countries that are their homes now.
The survey was made by Indiaspora, a nonprofit community of global Indian diaspora leaders from various backgrounds and professions. It was released on February 15.
“It is a huge source of pride to have the first woman and first person of colour as the Vice President of the world’s oldest democracy be someone of Indian heritage. We wanted to use this seminal moment on Presidents’ Day to highlight a host of others in the diaspora who also are in public service,” said Indiaspora Founder MR Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and investor.
“These leaders are building a legacy for future generations, and one that extends beyond our community to all of the constituents and communities that they serve,” he added.
The List also includes diplomats, legislators, heads of central banks and senior civil servants from countries with significant histories of diaspora migration, such as Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
“It is an honour to be included on the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List. As the longest-serving Indian-American Member of Congress, I am proud to be a leader in the Indian American community, which has become an integral part of American life and society,” said Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia.
There are more than 32 million People of Indian Origin (PIOs) globally, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Indians are the largest diaspora population in the world. Half of them have taken citizenship of the countries they live in. The over 200 PIOs figuring in this survey belong to this category.
The rest hold Indian passports.
The officials on the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List collectively represent more than 587 million constituents, and their countries account for an estimated US$ $28 trillion in GDP, demonstrating the impact that these leaders are having globally.
“It truly is inspiring to note the remarkable contribution that government leaders of Indian heritage have made to advance the societies that they now represent,” said Rosy Akbar, Fiji’s Minister of Education, Heritage, and Arts. “For a sizable segment of the population, it is government policy addressing social injustices that lead to a transformative path of sustainable socio-economic progress.”
The List includes immigrants from India, as well as professionals born in countries such as Singapore, South Africa, England, Canada and the U.S.
“As a proud Indo-Canadian, it is an honour to be included in the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List alongside an accomplished and diverse group of leaders from the India diaspora,” said Senator Ratna Omidvar. “I am eternally proud of my Indian heritage, but also being Canadian. Canada has given me its protection and its opportunities. And, in return, I am committed to making it a better place so that it continues to be a land of protection and opportunity for future Canadians.”
“It is inspiring to see the number of Indian diaspora who are entering the public arena,” said Indiaspora Board Member Arun Kumar, Chairman and CEO at KPMG India, who served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Barack Obama administration.
He said: “Having had the opportunity to serve, I can speak to what a memorable and fulfilling experience it was. Above all, it was a meaningful way to give back. My hope is that this cohort of leaders will set an example for even more of the Indian diaspora to aspire to public service.”
The Indiaspora Lists highlight the advances of the Indian diaspora and raise their profile in the global consciousness in areas such as government, business, academia, and philanthropy.
The second of the Indiaspora Lists, the inaugural Indiaspora Business Leaders’ List, released in July 2020, featured the Indian diaspora who are leading the largest global companies—CEOs, Presidents, or Chairpersons of the Board of Directors.