Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a group of ministers have cancelled their scheduled visit to the UAE following the objection raised by the Centre.
The chief minister earlier decided to attend the upcoming Investors’ Meet organised by Abu Dhabi Government, besides the programmes of various organizations, following an invitation extended by the UAE Government. The nine-member delegation, which includes Ministers P Rajeeve, P A Muhammad Riyas, and Chief Secretary V P Joy, was set to fly to the UAE on May 7.
However, the Ministry of External Affairs informed the Government that there is no need for the Chief Minister and the ministers to attend such events, and it is sufficient to send an official delegation.
The ‘Investors Meet’ is scheduled from May 8 to 10 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. It was UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi who extended the invitation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The inappropriateness of foreign countries directly inviting the Chief Minister and the ministers too have led to the Centre's decision to decline permission for the visit.
In the absence of the Chief Minister and the ministers, a high-level delegation led by the Chief Secretary will attend the Investors’ Meet. It is yet to be decided who will be part of the delegation. The Centre refused to give the nod for the UAE visit after sitting on the application submitted by the State for nearly a month.
