Kerala minister to scout for investments in the US

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 : Kerala's Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem is leaving for a week-long trip to the US to scout for investments, after having lashed out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at public meetings for hobnobbing with the Americans.

At a public meeting in Kasargode, north Kerala, Friday, Kareem, a top Communist Party of India-Marxist leader, criticised the prime minister for improving ties with the US.

Speaking to IANS, Kareem confirmed that he is not only meeting top Indian businessmen during his visit but also American companies for investments in the state.

"We are leaving from here on the 29th of this month and would be in the US for seven days. We will visit New York and Washington. We have been invited by the American Malayalee Chamber," said Kareem.

Kareem will be accompanied by industries secretary T. Balakrishnan and the chief of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Manoj Joshi.

This is Kareem's first visit to the US after the Left government assumed office in May 2006.

Former Left chief minister E.K. Nayanar had visited the US and Europe seeking investments during his term (1996-2001) but current Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, considered a communist hardliner, is yet to travel abroad since he took over.