Nationality Indian Name Malini Menon | Role Entrepreneur | |
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Residence Dubai, United Arab Emirates | ||
Organizations founded Indian Expressions | ||
Malini N. Menon is an Indian national and UAE-based entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Managing Director of IEDEA, (formerly known as Indian Expressions), a business ideation and network facilitation agency engaged in the IP development of branded business events and PR initiatives that are focused on sustainable investor outreach and acquisition located in Jumeirah Lake Towers, under the DMCC Free Zone, Dubai, UAE.
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Since 2007, Menon has conceptualised and delivered Asia-centric leadership and business events and award ceremonies. Prime among them are 'Asian Business Leadership Forum Series (ABLF)™’, 'Asian Business Awards Middle East™', and the ‘ICLF Series’, among others.
Menon’s events receive royal patronage from the ruling family of the UAE, especially for her contribution to promoting the business ties between India and the UAE, and extensive work in showcasing the achievements of overseas Indians globally.
Since 2015, Menon has served as Advisor and Partner to several initiatives of the UAE government, most notably the UAE Prime Minister's Office and the World Government Summit, a global knowledge exchange platform at the intersection between government, futurism, technology and innovation that brings together more than 150 governments and international organisations to share knowledge and experiences, in the efforts to improve government work and offer better services to humanity. She also contributes to the initiatives of the Dubai Women Establishment and serves as Advisor across events such as the Global Women’s Forum. Her company is a Partner to global events organised in Dubai such as the Arab Media Forum organised by the Dubai Press Club, The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award organised by The Cultural Office of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Dubai Investment Forum organised by the Department of Economic Development, Dubai.
Menon, through IEDEA’s publishing arm, also produces and publishes limited-edition coffee table books and white papers on Asia-related subjects. India and the UAE: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship is the first in the series and India and Oman: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship, Images of Success™ is an upcoming release.
Career
In 2007, she founded Indian Expressions, now called IEDEA.
In May 2010, The India-UAE Knowledge Forum, a joint venture by Menon’s company IEDEA and the Rajen Kilachand Knowledge Foundation, was established, through which the potential areas of cooperation between India and UAE are discussed.
India and the UAE: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship is a coffee-table book published in May 2011 by Menon and authored by Venu Rajamony, former Indian Consul-General in Dubai. The book traces historical between the India and the UAE, detailing political ties, business relations and social sector engagements. The book received royal patronage from H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, and a foreword by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, the then-Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research UAE.
In an interview with the Oman Observer, Menon stated, “The ABLF Series is a platform to promote the sectors of industry, infrastructure and energy. The Awards event celebrates the success of Asians who have done well in these three sectors. The Forum is a congress event, where people discuss and debate regional business concerns. It is going to be a good event where world-renowned leaders, in industry and policy making, will be there and speak, contribute to and engage in dialogues.” One of the senior most advisors to the ABLF Series, H.E. Kamal Nath, ex-Indian Urban Development Minister said, “Events like the ABLF Awards are important because they support the opportunity of engagement between the Asian countries.”
Some of the recipients of the ABLF Awards 2013 include: H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman of Emirates Airline and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group, UAE; H.R.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain; Chua Sock Koong, Group CEO, Singtel, Singapore; Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Group of Hospitals, India; and William E. Heinecke, CEO and Chairman of Minor International, Thailand, among others.
On December 20, 2013, H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra, Former Prime Minister of Thailand formed the OneAsia2020 initiative, in partnership with Menon’s ABLF Series. The OneAsia2020 initiative is a call to the Asian region for proactive intent, peace and partnership in a pro-Asia movement towards peace, diplomacy and better economic relations.
The ABLF Awards 2014 felicitated: H.E. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashmi, Minister of State in the Cabinet, UAE; H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan; H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Ghannam Al Rumaithi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber, UAE; H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO and Director of Mashreq Bank, UAE; Dr R. Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, Qatar; Dr Rana Kapoor, Founder, Chairman and CEO of YES BANK, India; and, Fahd Al-Rasheed, CEO and Managing Director of Emaar Economic City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, among others.
Recognition
Menon’s work in promoting Asian ties between the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and the Far East has been commended by H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, UAE; H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, UAE; H.E. Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doha Bank, Qatar; H.E. Khalil Abdullah Al Khonji, Chairman of the Federation of GCC Chambers and Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Oman; and Dr Amer bin Awadh Al Rawas, CEO of Omantel, Oman, among others.
Her initiatives have been widely covered by Pakistan Observer, Zawya, The Hindu, Arab News; Khaleej Times, Al Bawaba, Gulf Times, The National, The Peninsula, Emirates New Agency, Times of Oman, Gulf News, Muscat Daily, Gulf Today, Deccan Herald and Dubai Chronicle, including popular TV programme, Zee Connect.