Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram
Al Owais shaking hands with Chandy at his office in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. Also seen are Kunhalikkutty, Joseph and Yusuffali MA
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will set up its consulate within a year in Kerala - the second after India’s commercial hub of Mumbai - as requested by the southern state which sends the highest number of workers from India to the Gulf nation.
The consulate will be located either in the state capital here or the port city of Kochi where the Gulf country has a huge business interest after the launch of DP World’s international container transshipment terminal and the SmartCity Kochi promoted by Dubai’s Tecom Investments.
The decision was taken at a meeting held between Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and HE Mohammed Sultan Abdalla Al Owais yesterday in the presence of Non-resident Keralite Affairs Minister KC Joseph, Industries Minister PK Kunhalikkutty and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Yusuffali MA.
Al Owais also gave him an official letter for facilitating it.
Chandy said the official announcement has to come from the federal government while E Ahamed, the junior foreign minister in charge of the West Asia, said at another venue that it was a matter of time.
“The office of the CM will decide on details like the location of the consulate. We always give preference to promoting businesses,” said the ambassador who was meeting the CM for the second time after the latter assumed office barely two months back.
