DUBAI: The NRIs are celebrating the first regional summit of the Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) West Asian meet, to be held outside Kerala for the first time. A large flow of NRIs are seen from Friday morning at the Etisalat Academy in Dubai where it is convened. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will address nearly 15,000 NRIs at the open venue of the academy. They expect the chief minister to announce the welfare pension for expatriates, dividend projects and rehabilitation schemes.

The chief minister is also expected to announce a special company to collect NRI investments, an international study centre for research, a construction company managed by NRKs and rehabilitation programmes. A plan providing high dividend and pension to NRIs who invest for the development of Kerala will also be announced. Anyone depositing a minimum amount of Rs 5 lakh or more can join the pension programme. This amount can be deposited in Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) or similar agencies. A 12 % interest will be paid to the investor as dividend. He will start getting a monthly income after a completion of five years. Even if he leaves his job and returns home, he will get pension. A minimum monthly amount of Rs 2000 will be given as pension.

NORKA will bear the expenses of bringing the bodies of those dying in Gulf to the state. Talks will be held to solve the remaining issues. A 10 % discount will be given in the airfare for NORKA members. Oman Air has already signed the deal for seven percent discount. Indigo and Kuwait Airlines will sign the deal soon.