by Sujay Bendur - Daijiworld News Network
Dubai, June 8:. A hearty welcome was accorded to Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaarswamy when he arrived from Mumbai with a high-level delegation at 8.30 pm on Wednesday.
He is on a 3-day official visit to the Emirates at the invitation of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha. On his way back he is expected to visit the Sultanate of Oman on June 11.
In his brief chat with Daijiworld.com correspondent at the Airport, the CM declared that within a month's time the eagerly-awaited International flight to Mangalore would take off.
He has assured that government will start dialogue with carriers and see why the direct flight could not be operated to the Mangalore airport despite all requisite facilities beig available at Mangalore.
Earlier, Grand Patron Dr B R Shetty, President Sarvotham Shetty and representatives of various Karnataka Sanghas and eminent elders of the Karnataka community were present to welcome the CM's delegation.
This visit has aroused a lot of interest as this is H D Kumaarswamy’s first foreign trip after becoming CM. And also this is the first visit of a Karnataka Chief Minister to the Emirates.
The chief minister’s visit will provide an ideal opportunity to thousands of people from Karnataka in the Emirates to interact with him and discuss issues involving non-resident Kannadigas.
The CM is joined by wife Anitha Kumaraswamy and son Nikhil.
Dr V S Acharya, minister for medical education and animal husbandry is another important dignitary who is specially invited to attend the celebration.
MLA’s H C Balakrishna, K S Radha, C S Puttaraju and H M Viswanath are also part of CM’s Team.
Members of the high level delegation :
• Sudhakar Rao, IAS, Principal Secretary to Hon'ble CM
• Sobha Nambisan, IAS, Chairperson and MD, KSIIDC
• I M Vittala Murthy, IAS, Secretary to Information, Tourism, Kannada and Culture Dept.
• Mahendra Jain, IAS, Secretary to Govt.Commerce & Industry Dept.
• Dr V S Somanath, Assistant General Manager, KSIIDC
• M R Vasudeva, Director, Bajpe Airport (AAI), Mangalore
The major engagements of the this high-powered delegation are to participate in the Investors Meet hosted by Indian Business and Professional Group Abu Dhabi on Thursday and the Grand Silver Jubilee Celebration of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha at 10 am on Friday in the Armed Forces Club, Abu Dhabi.
Jointly hosted by Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain along with Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha this event will be gala affair.
New Medical Center and Zafrulla Khan of Zain International Group of Hotels will be the Main Sponsors.
Also read Daijiworld's earlier bureau reports from Bangalore and Mumbai: