Will Build India Of Your Dreams, Join In Our Effort: Modi To Indians Abroad

"India can supply the workforce to the world," he said, suggesting that India should export its trained teachers and nurses across the world.

He also proposed that the diaspora should join in the efforts to rebuild the country, a "vikas jan andolan" or a mass movement for development - in helping in any way they could.

Referring to the skill development that his government has launched for the youth, he said his government has created a skill development ministry and would invite other countries to join in the effort.

He also referred to the Make in India campaign the government launched ahead of his U.S. visit to invite investments and to manufacture in India as also the sanitation campaign to make a Clean India, a movement which he said would gladden the hearts of Indian abroad who often get turned away by India's pervasive squalor.

He asked the Indian diaspora to connect with him directly online and also asked them to join in the endeavour to clean the Ganga river.

Modi also announced visa-free arrival for U.S. tourists in India and that Indian missions in the U.S. would grant long term visas to U.S. citizens, which was widely welcomed by the Indian Americans.

Ahead of the address, for which tickets were sold out days in advance, there were some performances by Gujarati and Rajasthani folk dancers and a song by noted singer Kavita Krishnamoorthy, who also rendered the Indian national anthem.

Capping two days eventful in New York, Modi travels to Washington Monday for summit talks with President Barack Obama, his top cabinet colleagues and Congressional leaders to renew and revive a bilateral dialogue and strategic partnership that seemed to have run into uncertain weather in recent times.

His address to the Indian diaspora comes a day after he enthralled a 65,000-strong youthful crowd at Central Park, unveiling to them his vision of a clean India with toilets for all, and ending with the iconic words "May the force be with you" from the evergreen hit Star Wars films.

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