Finance minister KN Balagopal said that the European visit of CM Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers has been planned without incurring much expense. The trip is essential to understand the system and working of other countries, the minister said. The reaction comes when the government is being heavily criticised for the ministers’ trip to Europe. 

“It is not a new thing for Keralites to fly in and out of foreign countries. The connections with foreign countries go way back,” he added. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and some of his cabinet ministers are gearing up for a visit to European countries including Britain, Norway and Finland to make interventions for attracting investments to the state and conduct studies on the higher education sector. 

The visit to Finland was scheduled following the invitation of the Finland government for analysing the opportunities for higher education in the country.