UAE consulate in Kerala to boost ties, benefit common man

Abu Dhabi - Dignitaries from the UAE and Kerala were in attendance for the second consulate in India after Mumbai.

The office of the UAE Consulate General was opened in Kerala on Wednesday evening. Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam inaugurated the building in Manacaud junction of Thiruvananthapuram.
"The consulate will be a big boon for the people of Kerala. In the UAE, we have a huge population of Keralites. All of them will benefit from the services offered at the consulate," P. Sathasivam said.
Dignitaries from the UAE and Kerala were in attendance for the second consulate in India after Mumbai.
The UAE delegation was led by Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohammed Mir Abdullah Al Raisi. He hoisted the UAE flag at the Consulate.
Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri and Ambassador of the UAE to India Dr Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Banna also attended the event.
Leaders from Kerala included Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor and Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department vice-chairman and LuLu Group MD MA Yousuf Ali.
Vijayan lauded the Consulate as a great development. "It is very good we have a consulate in Kerala." Tharoor said Kerala and the UAE share good relations from ancient times.
Consul General Jamal Hussein Al Zaabi will head the mission.
Delivering his vote of thanks, Al Zaabi said the consulate will further boost the existing ties between the two countries.
Separately, the UAE delegation held a meeting with the Kerala Chief Minister. They discussed ways to boost cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties. The leaders discussed ways to enhance ties in economic, investment and diplomatic divisions. The UAE delegation included Al Raisi, Al Dhaheri and Al Banna.
Al Raisi appreciated the significant efforts initiated by the Indian government and its role in boosting cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
He added that trade and economic exchanges between the countries has strongly enhanced the ideal and multifaceted partnership.
Al Raisi pointed out the crucial contributions made by the Indian community, most of whom have come from Kerala, which support economic development in both the countries.

• India