THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is on an eight-day foreign visit to United States of America and Cuba, reached New York City on Friday.

Pinarayi will attend the regional conference of Loka Kerala Sabha, an assembly of representatives of expatriates from Kerala, at Times Square in New York, on June 10.

Pinarayi was received at the airport by NORKA Director M Anirudhan and Organizing Committee President Manmadhan Nair. He was accompanied by his wife Kamala Vijayan, Finance Minister KN Balagopal and Speaker AN Shamseer.

On June 9, the CM will pay homage at the 9/11 Memorial in New York and visit the UN Headquarters. He will also address a public meeting of Malayali emigrants at Times Square on June 11 after attending an investors’ meet and interaction with experts from various fields.

The Chief Minister will call on World Bank Vice President (South Asia Region) Martin Raiser on June 12 and visit the Waste Management system in Maryland on June 13. Later, he will leave for Havana on June 14. Later, he will spend two days in Cuba.

The three-day Lok Kerala Sabha will be held at the Marriott Markway Hotel in Times Square. Kerala Chief Secretary VP Joy, NORKA Resident Vice Chairman P Sreeramakrishnan, NORKA Principal Secretary Suman Billa, and Lok Kerala Sabha Director K Vasuki are also attending the programme.

Rajya Sabha member John Brittas will present a paper on ‘Where to New Kerala - Role and Cooperation Possibilities of American Malayalis.’ Chief Secretary VP Joy will speak on ‘Malayalam Language-Culture-New Generation American Malayalis and Cultural Propagation Possibilities.’ K Vasuki will talk on ‘Malayalam American Migration-Future and Challenges.’