Kerala’s ambitious drive to attract international investment gained significant momentum as Industries Minister P. Rajeev led a high-profile delegation to Dubai, securing strong commitments from UAE’s top business and government leaders for the upcoming Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS).
In a series of strategic meetings on January 13-14, 2025, Minister Rajeev engaged with key UAE officials including UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi. The discussions yielded a concrete outcome with the UAE confirming it would send a special delegation to the IKGS scheduled for February 21-22, 2025.
Minister Suwaidi expressed particular interest in exploring investments in Kerala’s logistics and food processing sectors. The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce announced plans to dispatch officials for preliminary assessments of potential investment locations in Kerala ahead of the summit.
During the investor roadshow at Taj Dubai, Indian Ambassador to UAE Shri Sunjay Sudhir highlighted the unique position of Kerala in Indo-UAE relations. “Kerala stands out in the trade connection. From humble beginnings, we have reached a stage where India is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner,” Ambassador Sudhir noted, emphasizing Abu Dhabi’s emergence as the ‘capital of capital’ with its sovereign wealth fund assets surpassing global financial hubs.
In his comprehensive address to potential investors, Minister Rajeev challenged long-standing misconceptions about Kerala’s industrial landscape. “Despite occupying just 1.16% of India’s land area and 2.8% of its population, Kerala contributes a remarkable 4% to the national GDP,” he stated, backing his assertion with compelling statistics about the state’s industrial achievements.
The minister highlighted Kerala’s dominance in the medical device industry, noting that the state accounts for 24% of India’s medical device industry turnover and 17% of medical device products.
He also spotlighted Kerala’s pioneering role in technology, citing the establishment of Keltron in 1973 – India’s first public-sector electronics company – and Technopark in 1993, the country’s first and largest technology park. “Today, Keltron manages AI-based traffic control systems for National Highways and smart city projects, showcasing our technological capabilities,” he added.
