Non-Resident Keralites to meet in Kochi

Thiruvananthapuram:The Kerala government will organise a Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) Global Meet at Kochi January 16-17, 2015, an official said Monday.

The event will will be held at Le-Meridian Hotel. The last such event was held after the Oommen Chandy government assumed office in 2011.

A state government official told IANS that around 1,000 delegates are expected this time both from home and abroad.

"The online registration will begin soon and the focus is to get maximum participants from the European countries. There will be separate registration fees for participants from India and abroad," the official said.

In a study conducted by Centre For Development Studies last month, the number of Kerala emigrants was 23.63 lakh in 2014, while the figure was 22.81 lakh in 2011, 21.93 lakh in 2008, 18.38 lakh in 2003 and 13.62 lakh in 1998.

The study also said that 90 percent of the Keralites are staying in various Middle East countries.

"Chandy will take part in the event and there will be sessions which include investment opportunities for the diaspora," the official said.

"There would be a session where people can express their problems and suggest what they expect the state government to do. A separate session for the emigrants would also be held," he said.

The state government is keen to invite Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to inaugurate the event.