Noted industrialist from Uganda Manubhai Madhvani will inaugurate the convention. Among the host of dignitaries will be Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and speaker of State Assembly Dhirubhai Shah.

Samaj president Krishnakant Vakharia and member of organising committee Suren Choksi told reporters on Tuesday that the idea to organise the meet was to benefit Gujarat through interaction between those staying in the State and elsewhere in the country and abroad. They said the interaction would particularly concentrate on how best the NRIs could contribute in the development of Gujarat.

According to Choksi, such a large magnitude of gathering has also not been organised in Gujarat before. An exhibition depicting development of Gujarat will be also put up to mark the occasion.

Among a large number of noted Gujaratis who will deliver lectures include: Narmada Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, Markand Bhatt from Vadodara, journalist Batuk Vora, Yasin Dalal from Rajkot.

A session on `Challenges faced by Gujarat in the 21st Century' will be chaired by former MP Sanat Mehta and will include speakers of the ilks of former chairman of Water Mission, Government of India V B Patel. He will speak on `The water crisis and the remedies', while MP Dr Y K Alagh will speak on `Agricultural and rural progress'.

The delegates will also deliberate on the technological and industrial progress of Gujarat, means to protect environment and curb pollution.

In the last session on January 4, Gujarat Governor Anshuman Singh will give away `Gujarat Gaurav' awards to those who have performed exceptionally well in various fields.

On January 5, the delegates will be taken to visit the Sardar Sarovar Project at Kevadia Colony. Vakharia and Choksi said the organisation plans to set up a cultural centres in Ahmedabad and Mumbai for the benefit of Gujaratis coming to India from abroad.