UAE opens third consulate in India

The UAE consulate is now opening in Kerala. Only the location will be decided by the UAE Ambassador to India. This is going to be a great source of help to Keralites, as UAE is the place where the maximum number of the Kerala diaspora is settled. Kerala Minister for Non-Resident Keralites K.C. Joseph told IANS this was “Happy news”. KM Abdulla, Director and former Chairman of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the KCCI has been talking with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other GCC countries, Malaysia and Australia to establish their consulates in the Kerala Trade Center, a project initiated by the chamber to facilitate single window clearance system for foreign investors and Indian migrant workers. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, was in India; during his recent tour of India he met senior leaders including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. Top corporate leaders and senior officials from the UAE Foreign Ministry were part of the mission to explore opportunities in the areas of shipping, aviation, telecommunications and energy, besides others. The UAE has considerable business and commercial interest in southern India, especially Kochi, where major projects like Smart City, DP World and other projects are based.