Self-made Malayali businessman now top brass in Kyrgyz army
dubai — A rare military position has been offered to a Malayali living in the Dubai by Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian state of the former Soviet Union.
From among more than two million Malaylis present across the world, now Shaikh Rafik Mohammed, has become a notable name, who has been appointed as major general of the country by Ali Mirza, Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan, at an official ceremony held there.
While disclosing the news to Khaleej Times, his media advisor Omar Abu Baker, said: “It is a rare military position occupied by an overseas Malayali,”
Rafik Mohammed, the chairman of Gammon Group (UAE and Saudi Arabia) was conferred the military leadership at a function held in the Kyrgyzstan military head office, his representative told Khaleej Times.
The Saudi-based entrepreneur of Indian origin, whose family resides in Dubai, was invited by the Kyrgystan government to take up the prestigious military position in view of his earlier contribution to the country.
Abu Baker added that Rafik Mohammed holds Kyrgyzstan nationality, conferred by its former president, Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev, who he casually met while working in Iran in his 20s.
The inspiring story of the Malayali who migrated from Kozhikode in Kerala — that too before completing his fifth-grade schooling — culminated in his recent appointment as major general of Kyrgyzstan. While there are scores of successful of business tycoons in the region, this could well be the first time a Malayali has occupying top military leadership of a foreign country.
It is a rare military position occupied by an overseas Malayali. Rafik Mohammed had left Kerala at a young age and he could complete only his primary school education. He has worked in the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.” Omar Abu Baker, Media advisor
“Rafik had left Kerala at a young age and he could complete only his primary school education. He went to Mumbai where the young man learnt all the tricks of business and from there to the Middle East. He has worked in the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan,” his media advisor added.
Bakiyev remained president for two terms and Rafik Mohammed developed a wide network of friends in the Central Asian republic, which has witnessed a rapid flow of foreign investment and reversal of socialist mode of development to a capitalist mode of production.
As an economic diplomat, Rafik played a key role in attracting foreign investment from many countries to the young nation by suggesting easy tax regimes that kept away foreign investors till then. From there, he was invited by Saudi Arabia to develop some projects on the free zone model of Dubai.
Kyrgyzstan maintains close economic, political and strategic relationship with the Gulf region, especially Saudi Arabia. Kyrgyzstan is also a member of the Jeddahbased Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).
Gammon Group has a strong presence in emerging markets such as Asia, Middle East, Europe and North Africa. The diversified group is present in several areas, including infrastructure management and petrochemicals. According to the group’s website, it employs 200,000 employees in 28 countries.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com