Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, May 13: The Indian government has appointed prominent Gulf-based businessman Yusaf Ali M A as a director board member of Air India.

His appointment is part of the government’s move to restructure the national carrier run by the National Aviation Company (NACIL) of India Ltd.

Yusaf Ali is the managing director of Emke Group which runs the LuLu Hypermarkets and shopping malls across the Gulf.

He had served as a special invitee to the Board of Directors of Air India And Indian Airlines in 1997-98. He is the director of the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), the first airport set up in the private sector in the country.

Yusaf Ali is also a member of many state and central government bodies including the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council, the India Development Fund, the Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC).

He is also the vice chairman of Norka-Roots, a Kerala government enterprise set up for the welfare of Keralites living abroad.

Yusaf Ali is the first Asian to be elected to the board of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian government for his outstanding contribution in the field of industry and social work.