Mohammed Hanish APM IAS given charge of External Co-Operation, Kerala

External Co-operation Department of Kerala is an administrative unit serving as a focal point for international engagement. It coordinates with India’s Ministry of External Affairs on developmental matters, diaspora issues, and attestation services. Its primary function is to align state-level interests with national foreign policy, not to conduct independent diplomacy.

Mohammed Hanish APM IAS is widely known as a Technocrat Administrator steering Kerala’s Urban and Infrastructure Vision. He is among the state’s most versatile bureaucrats known for his deep engagement with urban development, infrastructure modernization, and governance reforms. A BTech in Civil Engineering, Shri Hanish brings a technocrat’s precision to public administration and has held several key assignments that have shaped Kerala’s developmental narrative over the past two decades.

Throughout his administrative career, Shri Hanish has been entrusted with significant responsibilities across core sectors — including health, industries, education, public works, and consumer affairs. As Principal Secretary (Industries) from 2021 to 2023, he played a crucial role in driving industrial policy and investment facilitation in Kerala. Earlier, as Chairman and Managing Director of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco), he worked on ensuring food security and improving the efficiency of the state’s public distribution systems.

He also served as Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), leading one of India’s most ambitious urban mobility projects. Under his stewardship, Kochi became the first city in Asia to introduce a Water Metro, an integrated water transport system connecting the backwaters and islands to the city hub. His approach combined sustainable transport solutions with tourism potential, positioning Kochi as a model for urban mobility and environmental harmony.

Shri Hanish’s administrative footprint extends to education and infrastructure as well. As Director of Public Instruction and Secretary, General Education Department, he spearheaded digital learning initiatives that earned the Education Department the Kerala Government’s E-Governance Award. His tenure as Secretary, Public Works Department and Urban Development, saw the completion of multiple critical road and bridge projects across Kerala, enhancing connectivity and regional development.

An officer with a strong commitment to continuous learning, he has attended several prestigious executive training programs — including those at IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. His courses on governance ethics, public-private partnerships, and social policy reflect his academic grounding in good governance and people-centric administration.

Admired for his pragmatic leadership and inclusive governance approach, Shri Mohammed Hanish’s work exemplifies Kerala’s forward-looking bureaucratic ethos. His contributions to infrastructure, education, and mobility planning continue to influence policy design in Kerala, setting benchmarks for effective and sustainable public administration.