South Asian Link - Launch

 

South Asian Link launched to keep South Asian Diaspora in touch

 

With three strikes of the dholak, Singapore’s President, Mr S R Nathan, launched the South Asian Link, a South Asian diaspora networking platform to be placed under the auspices of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), on 4 November 2009 in Singapore.

 

Among world cities, Singapore has one of the larger overseas South Asian populations as a percentage of its population. People of South Asian descent form around nine percent of Singapore’s population. They are either citizens or permanent residents. There are another 350,000 or so South Asians living, working and studying in Singapore. There are also more than 4,000 Indian companies here.

 

Using Singapore as the base, the South Asian Link aims to become a hub for the global South Asian diaspora to facilitate interactions and communication between them. It will develop relations with the diaspora outside of South Asia and maintain a network of active participants among the South Asian communities around the world. Through its regular social and cultural activities, website and newsletter, the South Asian Link will promote the South Asian culture and heritage and help South Asians keep in touch with one another.

 

  

 

From the left: ISAS Board members Professor Wang Gungwu, Mr S Chandra Das, Professor Tan Tai Yong with President S R Nathan and ISAS Chairman Mr Gopinath Pillai.

 

Press coverage

 

Watch the multi-media presentation of SAL (9MB)

 

Link for South Asian Diaspora - Tabla! 13 November 2009.

 

NUS sets up networking platform for 30 million South Asian Diaspora - Lianhe Zaobao, 5 November 2009.

 

South Asian Link website launched The Hindu, 5 November 2009.

 

Understanding unique India The Straits Times, 5 November 2009.

 

Adequate security for Apec summit: Shanmugam The Business Times, 5 November 2009.