Dubai: In a big push to attract investments and boost trade, the Government of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gulf Islamic Investment group.

The Group expressed interest and exchanged with  Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and IT&BT minister CN Ashwath Narayan on Monday at the Karnataka pavilion here at DubaiExpo 2020 event. The GII will open its office in Bengaluru to further strengthen Indo-UAE investment ties.

Gulf Islamic Investment (GII) is a leading UAE-based Sharia-compliant financial services firm with over $2 billion of assets under management. Minister Murugesh Nirani expressed happiness over the pact. “GII’s decision to foray into Karnataka and open its office in Bengaluru will further strengthen investment ties between India and UAE. Our state is an ideal place to make investments as we ensure ease of doing business and investor-friendly atmosphere. I’m sure that GII’s presence in Bengaluru will pave way for more investments, trade and creation of jobs,” Nirani said.

GII plans to invest USD 500 mn (INR 3,500 crore) in India in the next 3 years. The company is also planning collaborations with Indian startups to boost their Middle East expansion plans. 

Expressing his happiness, Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India, Dubai, termed Karnataka startup capital of Asia and added that Bengaluru is home to 40% of India’s unicorns. He said UAE is a big partner in India’s quest to become an US$ 5 trillion economy. 

In a joint statement, Mr. Mohammed Alhassan and Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Founding Partners and Co-CEOs of Gulf Islamic Investments, said “We are delighted to officially announce our plans to establish a GII office in India’s technology capital of Bengaluru. India represents a prime investment destination for GII and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to future investments in the country’s burgeoning start-up and high-growth enterprise space. Given the success of our preliminary investment rounds through the India Growth Portfolio series, valued at over INR 1,000 Crores, we look forward to expanding our footprint in India and strategically contributing towards enhancing the India- UAE investment corridor”.

Minister Murugesh Nirani with his packed schedule met several business delegations and succeeded in convincing several companies to make investments in Karnataka. The LuLu group, Ducab and Electric Way among others promised to make investments in the state.

During the day Nirani also held B2G (Business-to-Government) meeting with Gaurav Khanna, Vice President, Group Corporate Finance & Business Development of DP World;  Atheeqe Ansari CEO of Electric Way company, a leader in the region for distribution of cables, industrial lighting fixtures and electrical systems and Mohammad A. Al Qurashi, General Manager, Government Affairs, Ducab company which is a leader in the design & manufacture of copper, aluminium wire & cable products and also Sreenath P Reddy of Aster DM Heathcare. 

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Bhatkal: The management and students of New Shams School gathered during their morning assembly on Saturday to mourn the demise of SM Syed Khalil, a prominent NRI businessman and a guiding force for the school.

Addressing the assembly, Education Board member Moulana Ziya Ruknuddin reflected on Syed Khalil’s remarkable life journey. He highlighted how Khalil, born under challenging circumstances following his father’s death before his birth, overcame significant obstacles to achieve great success.

“Khalil’s life is an inspiration for all of us,” Maulana Ruknuddin said, urging students to draw lessons from his resilience, dedication, and humility. He also emphasized Khalil’s commitment to supporting education and his role in uplifting the people of Bhatkal.

Moulana Ziya further acknowledged Khalil’s contributions to the school, noting his instrumental role in constructing the new campus of New Shams School. He described Khalil as a mentor and guide who was always available to offer his support and vision for the betterment of the institution.

Principal Liyaquat Ali and Board Secretary Syed Qutub Barmawar also attended the ceremony, along with teachers and other staff members, as they joined the students in paying tribute to the beloved community leader.