Kerala has long been a global state. For generations, Malayalees have crossed oceans in search of opportunity — first to the Gulf, then to Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond. Today, the Malayalee diaspora is one of Kerala’s greatest strategic assets. Yet despite the success of Malayalees abroad, Kerala’s engagement with its global community remains largely cultural and emotional, rather than institutional and economic.
With Kerala’s new Chief Minister as a UDF government, the time has come for a more ambitious vision: positioning Kerala not merely as a consumer of remittances, but as a globally connected economic powerhouse for South India. The question is no longer whether the diaspora can help Kerala. The question is whether Kerala is prepared to build the structures necessary to harness this extraordinary network.
Here are my five recommendations for The Honorable Shri V. D. Satheesanto to create a truly global Kerala strategy with North America as its best partners:
1. Build Higher Education Partnerships Between Kerala and the United States
Kerala’s biggest long-term challenge is competitiveness, not literacy. Our students are talented, but many higher education institutions are disconnected from the global innovation economy. Kerala should establish partnerships with leading American universities for joint research, faculty exchanges, and dual degrees. While Kerala excels in healthcare, nursing, life sciences, IT, and sustainability, the aim isn’t just sending students abroad, but integrating global standards and innovation into Kerala.
2. Make North America the Official Landing Pad for Kerala Companies Expanding Globally
Kerala has produced many entrepreneurs in fields like technology, healthcare, food processing, tourism, and manufacturing, with more companies aiming to go global. The government should launch a 'Kerala Global Expansion Initiative” focused on North America to help firms access markets, navigate regulations, connect with investors, find partners, and test operations abroad. North America should be seen as a strategic business platform, not just a remittance hub, with the Malayalee diaspora providing mentorship, market access, and networks.
3. Establish an Annual Chief Minister-Led Delegation to the United States
Kerala’s global engagement must become systematic and leadership-driven, led by the Chief Minister through an annual North American economic and innovation delegation, including visits to Malayalee hubs such as Chicago. This delegation should involve business, academia, startups, tourism, healthcare, and cultural leaders, aiming for measurable outcomes like investments, university partnerships, startup collaborations, tourism, and economic deals. Many successful regions cultivate ongoing overseas networks; Kerala should too. An annual mission would also signal to second-generation Malayalees that Kerala views them as future stakeholders, not just visitors.
4. Create New Economic Development MOUs Between Kerala and U.S. Cities and States
Subnational diplomacy is becoming increasingly important in the modern economy. American states and cities are often more agile and business-focused than national governments when it comes to economic collaboration. Kerala should pursue formal economic development agreements with strategically important U.S. states and cities. These agreements could focus on: technology exchange, healthcare cooperation, clean energy, smart city initiatives, and workforce training. Kerala has always been outward-looking culturally. It must now become outward-looking economically.
5. Establish a Permanent Government of Kerala Economic Development Mission in the United States
Kerala needs a permanent North American office focused on economic development and partnerships, possibly in Chicago. This new Kerala Economic Development Office for North America would facilitate business, promote investment, organize trade missions, and build educational and institutional ties. It would signal Kerala's commitment to compete globally, as its future depends on connecting its people and businesses to the world.
The Chief Minister’s best global partners: here in the United States
The bridge between Kerala and North America has already been built by generations of Malayalees who carried their values, work ethic, and dreams across continents. Now, with a new Chief Minister and renewed purpose, we have an opportunity to strengthen that bridge. A truly global Kerala is within our reach. But achieving it will require more than ambition alone — it will require the courage to embrace new ideas, the discipline to build lasting partnerships, and the confidence to see Kerala not as a small state on the southern coast of India, but as a global center of talent, innovation, and opportunity.
About Abin Kuriakose
Abin Kuriakose (abin412@gmail.com) is an award-winning economic development and public policy executive with a track record of driving innovation and impact across the public and nonprofit sectors. He currently serves as Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at World Business Chicago, the official economic development organization for one of the largest cities in the United States. He’s an Emerging Leader of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (class of 2022) and a Civic Leadership Academy Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy (class of 2018). In 2026, he was recognized as one of Chicago’s Top 100 CEOs and C-Suite Executives by the national Titan 100 organization and received the Outstanding Service in Leadership Award from the Illinois State Treasurer.
Abin Kuriakose
