Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met senior UAE ministers during his visit to the Emirates to strengthen economic partnerships and explore new areas of cooperation between Kerala and the UAE. This is the first day of his two day visit to the UAE, and part of his wider Gulf tour aimed at engaging with the Malayali diaspora and attracting investment to the state.
During the meetings, the chief minister held discussions with Mohammed Al Gergawi, minister of cabinet affairs; Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, minister of economy; and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of foreign trade, focusing on investment opportunities and potential partnerships in emerging sectors. He also met Badr Al Olama, director general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Fahad Al Gergawi, under secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Accompanying Pinarayi Vijayan were Saji Cherian, Kerala’s minister for culture; Dr A. Jayathilak, chief secretary; and Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul general of India in Dubai. Business leaders, including MA Yousuf Ali, CMD Lulu group, Dr Shamseer Vayalil, chairman of Burjeel Holdings, Adeeb Ahmed, CEO of Lulu Exchange, and Sharon Shamsuddin, were also present.
The discussions centred on strengthening economic ties, with both sides exploring prospects for collaboration across multiple sectors. Kerala has been positioning itself as an investment destination as it prepares to host the Invest Kerala Global Summit in February 2025. With more than a million Keralites living in the UAE, the region remains a vital economic partner, contributing to the state’s economy through remittances and business links.