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29 March 2024

Kerala invites UAE investors to invest in education

KHDA officials hold discussions with Kerala Education Minister Abdurab on setting up an academic city (SUPPLIED)

Published
By VM Sathish

The South Indian state of Kerala has invited UAE investors to set up an international academic city in the state, similar to the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) to develop higher education centers and colleges.

Speaking to Emirates 24/7, PK Abdurab, Minister of Education in Kerala Government, said that he held preliminary discussions with the higher officials of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the regulatory body in charge of DIAC, about the possibilities of setting up an academic city in Kerala during his visit to the UAE.

DIAC is the world’s only free zone dedicated to higher education. Established in 2007 as part of Tecom Investments, DIAC aims to develop the region’s talent pool and establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy.

He said the Indian government has already announced plans to invite foreign universities and investors in the higher education field and that the state of Kerala is open to foreign universities to set up higher education centers in the state.

“We are exploring the possibility of setting up world class educational institutions that can provide higher education to students from Kerala, other Indian states or even foreign countries. We will continue discussions on the plans to set up an academic city in Kerala,” he added.

“A lot of students from Kerala are going for higher studies in other Indian states, Australia, Europe, America and other Asian countries. We are trying to provide higher education facility to these students in Kerala itself offering the international standard education,” Abdurab said.

Investors from the UAE have already established their presence in Kerala, with the multimillion dollar Smart City Project in Kochi, Vellarpadam Container Port project by DP World, to mention a few of them.