GLOBAL Organization of People of Indian Origin representing millions of people of Indian origin from various parts of the globe whose forefathers left India decades ago to settle in far away countries such as Surinam, Trinidad, Tobago, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and Malaysia etc. has spread its wings into Queensland. The GOPIO Queensland Chapter was officially inaugurated on 7th September 2008 during the inaugural GOPIO Asia Pacific conference.
The two day conference was hosted in Ipswich with the support of Ipswich City Council and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale. Mayor Paul Pisasale. Queensland chapter is headed by Umesh Chandra as President, Maha Sinathamby as Patron, Vinita Khusal as Secretary, Yousuf Alikhan as Treasurer, Shyam Das and Rakesh Sharma as Vice Presidents, other founding members are Baldev Singh Nijjar, Usha Chandra, Satpal Singh, Satnam Singh Roopra, Rajesh Malik, Sunil Gurram & Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda.
The Inauguration Ceremony was conducted by GOPIO International Chairman Mahyendra Utchanah from Mauritius and GOPIO International President P.P. Devaraj from Sri lanka. Mayor Paul Pisasale and Jim Varghese were admitted as life members of GOPIO Queensland at the inauguration ceremony. The inauguration Gala Dinner function was held at the Jimboom room of Ipswich Turf Club.
The inaugural GOPIO Asia Pacific conference proved to highly successful. The conference was held at the University of Southern Queensland Auditorium in Springfield.
The program began with meet and greet at various hotels, followed by a conducted coach tour of Ipswich, including the award winning Rail Museum and Queens Park. The delegates had a special Australian BBQ lunch experience in an especially erected marquee. In the afternoon the delegation visited Springfield area and saw Springfield Lake, Education City, shopping centre, housing, parklands etc.
A grand civic reception was held in the Art Gallery, many prominent locals joined in the function to welcome the delegates. Main speakers at the function were Mayor Paul Pisasale, GOPIO Queensland Chapter Umesh Chandra and GOPIO International President P.P.Devaraj
Registration for the main conference began at 8:15am at University of Southern Queensland Auditorium, Education City Springfield. Morning session began by the traditional lighting of the lamp, Vande Maatrum song by Usha Chivkula, Aboriginal dance and the official opening and welcome by Mayor Paul Pisasale, followed by the keynote speech by Maha Sinnathamby. Maha Sinnathamby’s motivational speech was well appreciated by the delegation. He touched on topics of self belief and having a passion to succeed, his presentation was highly inspirational.
Official country reports were presented by the delegates from Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India though other countries including Fiji and South Africa were present. During the country reports, common issues facing the PIO’s were highlighted, the major one being the acceptance of PIO’s by the NRI’s this issue has been highlighted at various conferences including Parvasi Bharatiya Divas. The PIO’s like to be treated as sons and daughters of the same parent not as stepchildren. NRI/PIO divide in Indian government perception is an issue of concern; which will once again be raised at the PBD conference in Chennai in January 2009.
After the country reports, a very successful speed networking session was conducted by GOPIO Queensland treasurer Yousuf Alikhan, it was a bit like the musical chair where each participants gets a chance to talk to all other participants on a rotational basis.
After lunch the three major topic were discussed, Migration opportunities, Business opportunities and Education opportunities.
The last session of the conference was moderated by Jim Varghese, who conducted an interactive discussion on better interaction of GOPIO chapters and members as first topic and the second topic was how should GOPIO international deal with and address common issues with Indian Government.
The outcome of the first topic was that there should be a common website, which must be kept up to date and must be used extensively to promote business, relations, etc. among GOPIO members. The web must also provide interaction/forum for individuals and companies.
The outcome of Discussion Topic 2 was to have a stronger GOPIO membership which will be able to pressure Indian Government and Local Government.
GOPIO should be the voice of People of Indian Origin to the Indian Government. PIO can play a humanitarian role in India to develop the profile of GOPIO to influence the Indian Government. It must create partnership with similar associations in India to pressure Indian Government in behalf of GOPIO.
GOPIO Queensland chapter inauguration Gala Dinner was held at Jibboom Lounge of Ipswich Turf Club. Guests were welcomed by a traditional aboriginal dance by the Nunukul Group.
Mayor Paul Pisasale opened the proceedings for the night and thanked the GOPIO Queensland Chapter for organising the inaugural Asia Pacific Conference and hosting it in Ipswich. He was delighted by the attendance of delegates from various countries. He then introduced Rachel Nolan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Partnership, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth, and who represented Queensland Premier, Hon. Anna Bligh.
Mahyendrah Utchanah, Chairperson GOPIO International (Mauritius), and P.P Devaraj, President GOPIO International (Sri Lanka) officiated the Inauguration Ceremony. They presented founder member certificates to the founding members and admitted Mayor Paul Pisasale and Jim Varghese as Life Members.
Delegates from Malaysia and Singapore presented special gifts to Mayor Paul Pisasale, Patron Maha Sinnathamby, GOPIO Queensland President Umesh Chandra and Rachel Nolan.
Minister P. Chandrasekran from Sri Lanka honoured Mayor Paul Pisasale, Patron Maha Sinnathamby, GOPIO Queensland President Umesh Chandra and Rachel Nolan by presenting traditional shawls to all of them.
Mayor Paul Pisasale was surprised by a birthday cake for him to mark his birthday which is actually on the 9th of September.
Guests were entertained by the lively music by the Brisbane Babas Band. The music was so lively that even Maha Sinnathamby joined in the dance floor.
The function was attended by many leading business people, politicians and community leaders who were all impressed by the quality of the conference in whole.
The two day conference was hosted in Ipswich with the support of Ipswich City Council and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale. Mayor Paul Pisasale. Queensland chapter is headed by Umesh Chandra as President, Maha Sinathamby as Patron, Vinita Khusal as Secretary, Yousuf Alikhan as Treasurer, Shyam Das and Rakesh Sharma as Vice Presidents, other founding members are Baldev Singh Nijjar, Usha Chandra, Satpal Singh, Satnam Singh Roopra, Rajesh Malik, Sunil Gurram & Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda.
The Inauguration Ceremony was conducted by GOPIO International Chairman Mahyendra Utchanah from Mauritius and GOPIO International President P.P. Devaraj from Sri lanka. Mayor Paul Pisasale and Jim Varghese were admitted as life members of GOPIO Queensland at the inauguration ceremony. The inauguration Gala Dinner function was held at the Jimboom room of Ipswich Turf Club.
The inaugural GOPIO Asia Pacific conference proved to highly successful. The conference was held at the University of Southern Queensland Auditorium in Springfield.
The program began with meet and greet at various hotels, followed by a conducted coach tour of Ipswich, including the award winning Rail Museum and Queens Park. The delegates had a special Australian BBQ lunch experience in an especially erected marquee. In the afternoon the delegation visited Springfield area and saw Springfield Lake, Education City, shopping centre, housing, parklands etc.
A grand civic reception was held in the Art Gallery, many prominent locals joined in the function to welcome the delegates. Main speakers at the function were Mayor Paul Pisasale, GOPIO Queensland Chapter Umesh Chandra and GOPIO International President P.P.Devaraj
Registration for the main conference began at 8:15am at University of Southern Queensland Auditorium, Education City Springfield. Morning session began by the traditional lighting of the lamp, Vande Maatrum song by Usha Chivkula, Aboriginal dance and the official opening and welcome by Mayor Paul Pisasale, followed by the keynote speech by Maha Sinnathamby. Maha Sinnathamby’s motivational speech was well appreciated by the delegation. He touched on topics of self belief and having a passion to succeed, his presentation was highly inspirational.
Official country reports were presented by the delegates from Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India though other countries including Fiji and South Africa were present. During the country reports, common issues facing the PIO’s were highlighted, the major one being the acceptance of PIO’s by the NRI’s this issue has been highlighted at various conferences including Parvasi Bharatiya Divas. The PIO’s like to be treated as sons and daughters of the same parent not as stepchildren. NRI/PIO divide in Indian government perception is an issue of concern; which will once again be raised at the PBD conference in Chennai in January 2009.
After the country reports, a very successful speed networking session was conducted by GOPIO Queensland treasurer Yousuf Alikhan, it was a bit like the musical chair where each participants gets a chance to talk to all other participants on a rotational basis.
After lunch the three major topic were discussed, Migration opportunities, Business opportunities and Education opportunities.
The last session of the conference was moderated by Jim Varghese, who conducted an interactive discussion on better interaction of GOPIO chapters and members as first topic and the second topic was how should GOPIO international deal with and address common issues with Indian Government.
The outcome of the first topic was that there should be a common website, which must be kept up to date and must be used extensively to promote business, relations, etc. among GOPIO members. The web must also provide interaction/forum for individuals and companies.
The outcome of Discussion Topic 2 was to have a stronger GOPIO membership which will be able to pressure Indian Government and Local Government.
GOPIO should be the voice of People of Indian Origin to the Indian Government. PIO can play a humanitarian role in India to develop the profile of GOPIO to influence the Indian Government. It must create partnership with similar associations in India to pressure Indian Government in behalf of GOPIO.
GOPIO Queensland chapter inauguration Gala Dinner was held at Jibboom Lounge of Ipswich Turf Club. Guests were welcomed by a traditional aboriginal dance by the Nunukul Group.
Mayor Paul Pisasale opened the proceedings for the night and thanked the GOPIO Queensland Chapter for organising the inaugural Asia Pacific Conference and hosting it in Ipswich. He was delighted by the attendance of delegates from various countries. He then introduced Rachel Nolan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Partnership, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth, and who represented Queensland Premier, Hon. Anna Bligh.
Mahyendrah Utchanah, Chairperson GOPIO International (Mauritius), and P.P Devaraj, President GOPIO International (Sri Lanka) officiated the Inauguration Ceremony. They presented founder member certificates to the founding members and admitted Mayor Paul Pisasale and Jim Varghese as Life Members.
Delegates from Malaysia and Singapore presented special gifts to Mayor Paul Pisasale, Patron Maha Sinnathamby, GOPIO Queensland President Umesh Chandra and Rachel Nolan.
Minister P. Chandrasekran from Sri Lanka honoured Mayor Paul Pisasale, Patron Maha Sinnathamby, GOPIO Queensland President Umesh Chandra and Rachel Nolan by presenting traditional shawls to all of them.
Mayor Paul Pisasale was surprised by a birthday cake for him to mark his birthday which is actually on the 9th of September.
Guests were entertained by the lively music by the Brisbane Babas Band. The music was so lively that even Maha Sinnathamby joined in the dance floor.
The function was attended by many leading business people, politicians and community leaders who were all impressed by the quality of the conference in whole.
