‘Friends of MP’ Chapters Across 11 Countries Give New Momentum to State’s Growth and Investment
Friends of Madhya Pradesh (FOMP) UK has emerged as a prominent diaspora organization representing Madhya Pradesh in the United Kingdom.
“Madhya Pradesh’s New Flight – With Friends of MP”The Fourth Series of an Exclusive Ground-Zero Report by Senior Journalist Sarman Nagele
‘Friends of MP’ Chapters Across 11 Countries Give New Momentum to State’s Growth and Investment
SARMAN NAGELE — London
The Department of Overseas Indians of the Government of Madhya Pradesh is actively working to bring together non-resident Indians (NRIs) living in various parts of the world while concurrently safeguarding their interests. The department also runs a wide range of activities to facilitate direct and indirect investments for the state’s development. These initiatives include cultural exchanges, investment promotion assistance, knowledge sharing, university exchange programs, tourism promotion, the marketing of indigenous handicrafts, and welfare programs.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Government of Madhya Pradesh who heads the Department of Overseas Indians, stated that the department has taken the initiative to establish country-specific chapters to connect the maximum number of people of Madhya Pradesh origin across nearly every nation. These platforms are known as Friends of MP (FoMP) chapters. This forum is open to Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), citizens of other states, civil society groups, industry associations, and academia – who may not originally belong to Madhya Pradesh but are keen to contribute to the state’s progress. Under the Department of Overseas Indians, dedicated NRI Help Desks will soon be launched in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore, Ujjain, and Rewa. At the initiative of the Chief Minister, the Department of Non-Resident Indians has made a provision of ₹15 crore. Continuous engagement between the government and well-wishers across the globe is maintained through the official website, www.friendsofmp.gov.in
To strengthen ties with the global Indian community, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has established ‘Friends of MP’ chapters in various countries. Currently, 17 FoMP chapters are active across 11 nations, including the USA, UK, Singapore, South Africa, UAE, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Lakhs of members are actively connected under these chapters. To ensure that citizens within Madhya Pradesh are equally aware of these FoMP chapters, the Chief Minister should place a special focus on local outreach.
The diaspora from MP settled in the UK is no longer confined to just cultural identity; they are emerging as vital partners in the economic, technological, and social development of the state. Friends of Madhya Pradesh (FOMP) UK has become a premier diaspora organization representing MP in the United Kingdom, building a “Living Bridge” of culture, investment, trade, education, and technology between the two nations.
Established in 2017 under the Department of Overseas Indians of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, FOMP UK is dedicated to community cohesion, student support, tourism and travel, trade, and technology, with the Chief Minister of MP serving as its patron. In contrast, the states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan initiated their activities under their respective overseas departments much later than the state of Madhya Pradesh.
'Friends of MP' Chapters Across 11 Countries Give New Momentum to State's Growth and Investment .
Friends of Madhya Pradesh (FOMP) UK has emerged as a prominent diaspora organization representing Madhya Pradesh in the United Kingdom.https://t.co/R2rdMoeVkg #MPPOSTBREAKING pic.twitter.com/ea5iFZS2qS
— MPPOST (@mppost1) July 11, 2026
FOMP UK Patron and former Deputy Mayor of London Rajesh Agrawal, alongside Founder Rohit Dixit, stated “Our community is a living bridge between India and the UK. We started with just a few families, but today it has transformed into a network that not only celebrates our culture but also opens new doors of opportunity.”
Student Help Desk: For students arriving from Madhya Pradesh to pursue higher education in the UK, FOMP UK has set up a dedicated Student Help Desk. This initiative provides comprehensive guidance on housing, university life, internships, and employment opportunities.
Tourism Promotion: Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), FOMP UK actively promotes Madhya Pradesh as a prime travel destination across the United Kingdom.
MSME & Trade Support: To strengthen commercial ties between the UK and MP, FOMP UK has formed a specialized Trade Group. This group assists Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing new markets, finding partners, and capturing investment opportunities, playing an active role in navigating the bilateral trade ecosystem under CETA .
IT Professionals Group: Connecting MP’s tech talent working within the UK’s digital economy, this dedicated group offers mentorship, skill development, employment leads, referrals, and career mapping. The network is envisioned to drive future innovation and digital collaboration between Madhya Pradesh and the UK.
