Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan begins European tour

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan left for a 13-day-long four-nation European  tour on Wednesday. He will be visiting the UK, France, Netherlands and Switzerland before returning on May 20.

The main events during his tour include listing of KIIFB masala bond in London Stock Exchange, World Reconstruction Conference (WRC4) in Geneva, investors meet and launch of KSFE pravasi chitty for Europe.

An official release issued by Indian Embassy at The Hague said during his visit to Netherlands,which is on the invitation of the Dutch Government, the chief minister will explore possibilities of cooperation in water management, flood prevention and agriculture.  

The Netherlands, with 26% of the country below sea level, is a world leader in the field of water management and flood control.

Kerala witnessed the worst floods in 100 years in August 2018. Following the floods, two Dutch water experts were part of the United Nations/Asian    Development Bank/World Bank/European Union Mission to Kerala.

Subsequently the Dutch Government sent in March 2019 a four-member Risk Reduction Mission which has submitted a report to the Kerala Government on Kuttanad, the region in the state below sea level.

The chief minister will meet  Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the Dutch minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, and Mr. Jan Kees Goet, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture.  He will visit the Port of Rotterdam to discuss inland water management.  

He will take part in the fourth World Reconstruction Conference (WRC4) to be held in Geneva on May 13 and 14.

 The chief minister will share Kerala's experience in tackling the devastating floods in 2018 and post disaster rebuilding initiative. American economist and Nobel laureate, Joseph E. Stiglitz will attend the meet in Geneva.

During his trip to Switzerland, the chief minister will hold discussions with UNDP crisis bureau director Ms. Asako Okai.

 On May 14, Mr Vijayan will hold talks with finance, education and tourism sectors federal councillor Guy Parmelin which will be followed by talks with Indian members of the Swiss Parliament.

 Mr. Vijayan is also scheduled to visit major waste management and disposal plants in that country.

He will met investors including NRKs who are keen to invest in the State. On May 16, the chief minister will visit Paris and hold talks with French economist Thomas Piketty and Lucas Chancel, co-director of the World Inequality Lab and of the World Inequality Database at the Paris School of Economics.

One of the significant events in his itinerary, is the listing of KIIFB masala bonds at the London Stock Exchnge on May 17.

He will launch  KSFE's Pravasi Chitty for Europe. The London programme will be attended by finance minister T. M. Thomas Isaac, KIIFB chief executive K. M. Abraham and industries secretary Dr. K. M. Elangovan. Mr Vijayan will be accompanied by chief secretary Tom Jose, additional chief secretary Vishwas Mehta, Rebuild Kerala Initiative Chief Executive Dr. V. Venu and Disaster Management Authority member secretary Dr. Sekhar Kuriakose.