Date:12/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/07/12/stories/2007071251582100.htm

Back Kerala, UAE form joint working group

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, July 11 Kerala and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formed a joint working group to identify industrial and commercial projects in the State to which investments from the UAE can be attracted.

The idea of a joint working group emerged during the visit of the Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, to the UAE from April 27 to May 9 this year.

Mr Kareem said here on Wednesday that the first meeting of the joint working group would be held in Kerala.

This is the first time that such an arrangement had been worked out between Kerala and the UAE and this is an important step for bringing in investments to the State from the Gulf region, he said.

AREAS OF INTEREST

The UAE has expressed interest in investing in petrochemical complex, power projects and infrastructure development projects in the State. The UAE-based Emirates Investment Group, a prominent financial and investment institution there, has also shown interest in making investments in Kerala, Mr Kareem said.

The Principal Secretary, Industries, Mr T. Balakrishnan, Secretary, Industries, Mr P.H. Kurien, Managing Director of Infrastructures Kerala Ltd (InKEL), Mr John Mathai, the Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr Jose Cyriac, and the Managing Director of Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra), Mr A.S. Suresh Babu, will represent the State in the joint working group.