By Naushad K Cherrayil, Staff Reporter  www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: The first phase of Rs20 billion SmartCity Kochi, a proposed self-sustained industry township for knowledge-based companies in Kerala, south India, and promoted by Dubai Holding, has finally being inaugurated on Saturday after facing numerous road blocks.
SmartCity Kochi is the second offshore hub of Dubai Holding after SmartCity Malta and holds 84 per cent stake and the rest 16 per cent by Kerala Government.
The much-delayed project was inaugurated by Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister; Mohammad Al Gargawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of Dubai Holding; Ahmad Binbyat, Vice-Chairman and MD, Dubai Holding; P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and IT and Chairman of SmartCity Kochi; Yousuf Ali M.A., Special Invitee to the Board of SmartCity; Sunny Varkey, Chairman, GEMS group; Jaber Bin Hafez, Vice-Chairman, SmartCity Kochi, among others.
The project, first envisaged in 2004, got delayed due to various legal and political issues and had to undergo many changes in the framework agreement. More info
