After Cochin
International Airport's success,
NRI Yousuf Ali to establish Kerala Airlines
Munbay, December 15, 2007
Anil Gupta
UAE, NRI businessman M.K. Yousuf Ali, who is leading retail brand
in the Gulf with an annual turnover of $1.4 billion, requested
Kerala MPs to establish Kerala Airlines, a low-cost airline service
for the Gulf region.
He is a director for Infrastructure Kerala Ltd (InKel), a state
government company to attract NRI funds for infrastructure development.
Millons of NRI from Kerala are keen to see their dream of having
a state-owned airline fulfilled.
Yousuf Ali told media that when the project for Cochin International
Airport Limited was floated, many were apprehensive whether it
would be successful. "Now all those shareholders are not
disappointed. The same will happen in the case of Kerala Airlines
too"
UAE business delegation also met Kerala Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan
to explore the possibility of investing in the state such as power,
petro-chemical industries and road development
2007
Yusuff Ali receives
the Asian Business Leader of the Year Award
from Energy Minister HE Mohammed Bin Dha’en Al Hameli.
Prominent Gulf-based Indian businessman Yusuff Ali has been chosen
as the Asian Business Leader of the Year. The top award was presented
to him in Abu Dhabi at a glittering ceremony by UAE Energy Minister
HE Mohammed Bin Dha’en Al Hameli in the presence of top
personalities from all walks of life.
Asian Business Award, which has been held annually in London
for the last 12 years, was being held in the Middle East for the
first time.
The awards were decided by votes polled throughout the Middle
East and evaluated by world-renowned auditors Price Waterhouse
Coopers.
Other winners are Lakshmi Mittal as Global Asian of the Year
and Narayanamoorthy of Infosys for Lifetime achievements. Yusuff
Ali, who is the first Asian to be elected to the Abu Dhabi Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, has been in the business for 30 years
and as Managing Director of EMKE Group, runs the successful retail
chain of LULU across the region. His other business interests
include manufacturing, importing and wholesale trading, IT, shipping,
real estate etc. With more than 18,000 staff and presence in 18
countries, he is by far seen as the true leader of business community
in the Middle East. Winner of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by
the President of India, Yusuff Ali is always in the forefront
of any initiative to promote Indo-Gulf business ventures.
A founder director of first private airport in India, Cochin
International Airport, Yusuff Ali was instrumental in bringing
Smart City to Cochin and is actively pursuing many more such projects.
