ABU DHABI // The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi has welcomed news that a UAE consulate is set to open in Kerala.
TP Seetharam, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, said on Sunday that the mission in the southern Indian state will help those who want to visit and work in the UAE.
“Having an office in Kerala will benefit all the people who travel from the southern parts of India,” said Mr Seetharam.
“This will not only benefit Keralites but will also serve other neighbouring states.
“It will promote trade and tourism and also facilitate people of both countries,” Mr Seetharam said.
Keralites, the largest Indian expatriate group in the UAE, have previously had to use the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or the consulate in Mumbai to apply for a visa.
Mohammed Sultan Abdalla Al Owais, the UAE Ambassador to India, confirmed the opening on Saturday, Indian media reports said.
He was attending a function called “UAE and Kerala – partners in growth” in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala at the time and said the consulate would open soon.
Oommen Chandy, the chief minister of Kerala, lauded the role played by the UAE in development in Kerala and said the consulate would benefit both job seekers and tourists who wanted to visit the UAE.
About 2.2 million Indians work here – with close to one million from Kerala.
anwar@thenational.ae
