NRI business magnate M A Yusuf Ali has been selected for the prestigious Interfaith Harmony Award specially endowed with United Nations’ Interfaith Harmony Week initiatives and observations.

Ali is one of Kerala’s most popular ambassador in the Middle-East on account of his hugely successful business empire and he has been credited with swinging the much-hyped Rs.1,500 crore mega Smart City Kochi IT project being built by Smart City Dubai, in favour of Kerala, when it appeared lost due to differences between the previous Left government and the Dubai promoter.

The International Interfaith Harmony Week, United Nations initiative, seeks to spread the message of harmony and tolerance among the followers of religions, faiths and beliefs.

The award will be presented to Ali March 1 at the International Seminar on Interfaith Harmony and Tolerance held in the International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak campus at Kuala Lumpur.

This award is the prime attraction of the International Seminar on Interfaith Harmony and Tolerance which is jointly organised by International Islamic University, Malaysia and the Kerala-based Madin Islamic Academy.

In a press release issued here Tuesday, the Madin Islamic Academy said the jury commended Ali as the fittest for this award after considering his social commitments.

“He is the unique one even in the business world, where 27,000 people work together without any discrimination of religion, caste, creed and nationality,” noted the jury.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly Sep 23, 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan.

On Oct 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and the first week of February will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.