The UAE has pledged $100 million for Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Tuesday, adding "a new Kerala" needed to be built. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to hundreds of thousands of Keralites, has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it would be providing $100 million for Kerala, Vijayan told the media. "A new Kerala has to be built. At today's cabinet meeting, it has been decided to submit a detailed list to the Centre," he said.

"Funds are the prime requisite for this. This will be raised by us through various sources besides getting it from the Centre and other agencies," he said. "The Kerala diaspora has been a huge source of help for us. Since they have done tremendous service in the Middle East, it has helped build good relations with the governments there.