JEDDAH – Several ventures initiated by a cooperative society, established by expatriates and the Gulf returnees, gained steam in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The Sahya Tourism & Pravasi Cooperative Society, based in Wandoor in Malappuram district, has initiated several plans and programs aimed at making available safe investment opportunities for expatriates returning from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, according to its President C. K. Mubarak. Addressing a press conference recently in Jeddah, Mubarak said that the society's ventures are aimed at creating job opportunities for a large number of expatriates who are returning to their homeland. "The society's activities are mainly concentrated in the vital sectors of tourism and education. Apart from this, we have plans to implement eco-tourism and heritage projects as well as resorts for traditional Ayurveda treatment," he said. Speaking on the occasion, P.T. Jabeeb Sukir, director of the society and chairman of the welfare standing committee at Wandoor Panchayat, urged expatriate families to take advantage of the low-cost all India tour package, which will be organized by the society during the summer vacation. "This year, we will organize the trip to Hyderabad, Delhi and Kashmir," he said, adding that there is tremendous response for the travel firm called Sahya Leisure, established by the society. He unveiled plans to open a cooperative arts and science college with focus on tourism and hospitality courses. The society also plans to build housing units for low-income expatriates, he added. The society's vice president K.T.A Muneer, Pappatta Kunhimuhammad, Alavi Aaruveettil, Zakir Hussain Edavanna and P. M Siddique also attended the press conference.
