The Middle East and Kerala share a unique bonding. There is even a saying that if it rains in Gulf, a Malayalee in Kerala catches a cold. Almost 10% of Kerala’s population lives in the Middle East countries.
It all started with 13 Keralites went to Qatar from Bombay. However, when there was a sudden oil price rise and economic boom, Middle East countries created labour opportunities Gulf Bloom happened. There were many people migrating from India to the Middle East. Keralites were the majority of people who migrated from India. That is how every fourth Indian in the Gulf countries is a Keralite. Slowly but steadily Kerala developed with a remittance economy that added to the gross domestic product (GDP) of India. This increased he standard of living of people in Kerala.
Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic saw around three lakh people returning from the Middle East. Other than the flow of remittance from the Gulf, the other major income source for Kerala is the tourism. Thus Kerala witnesses a huge downfall of its economy. However, the God’s own country has an efficient health sector and has dealt with the pandemic very well and was well appreciated for the same.
Kerala is now all set to rethink its strategies to boost the state’s economy. The bonding between Kerala and the Gulf nations remains an evergreen one even amidst the pandemic because of the past connections, and diaspora.
