Five of the infrastructure projects in the Maldives will start in the next two months.
Male:
During his two-day high-level bilateral visit to the Maldives, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla visited President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday and briefed him on the satisfactory status of implementation of the decisions made during the high-level interactions. between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Solih. in December 2018 and June 2019.
Solih expressed deep appreciation for the support received from India in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the $ 250 million financial assistance provided in September 2020 as budget support, according to a statement.
Mr. Shringla referred to the progress made in the implementation of eight large infrastructure projects in the Maldives under Indian lines of credit. Five of these infrastructure projects are expected to start in the next two months.
During his meeting with President Mohamed Nasheed, the Foreign Secretary also acknowledged his long-standing support for the strengthening of India-Maldives bilateral relations. He also assessed it for the capacity development support provided by the Indian Parliament to the People’s Majlis.
Mr. Shringla, along with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, witnessed the signing of the Agreement to extend a USD 100 million grant to the Maldives to co-finance the Greater Male Connectivity Project.
Memoranda of understanding were also concluded on the establishment of a drug detox center (MVR grant 7,980,536.69) in the city of Addu and the improvement of the Agricultural Research Center in Hanimaadhoo (MVR grant 1, 711,434.60).
It conveyed India’s decision to support the candidacy of Foreign Minister Shahid for the post of President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly for the year 2021-22.
In his call to Defense Minister Uza. Mariya Ahmed Didi, Shringla had briefed him on the excellent state of bilateral defense cooperation, including joint surveillance of the EEZ, joint military exercises and the HADR.
He then congratulated the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdullah Mausoom, for the successful efforts that resulted in a steady increase in tourist arrivals to the Maldives, which had put the recovery of the tourism industry on a solid foundation.
He also reviewed the state of bilateral relations together with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Abdul Ghafoor, where they discussed the respective national approaches to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ghafoor conveyed his government’s appreciation for India’s substantial assistance to the Maldives in overcoming the effects of the pandemic.
They positively evaluated the solid growth in the various axes of our bilateral relations, including the partnership for development, cooperation in health, connectivity, trade and economic relations.
Subsequently, Mr. Shringla participated in an event to deliver equipment for the installation of playgrounds on 67 islands throughout the atolls.
He also visited the Ekuveni field in Malé, where a new running track is being built financed by an Indian grant.
Both projects are included in the approximately 30 projects being implemented in the Maldives under the Rs 90 crore (US $ 13 million) grant from India.
Speaking at the event, Shringla noted that the Maldives will be among the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines, as soon as one is developed in India.
According to the statement, this is India’s first high-level bilateral visit to the Maldives this year and follows the interaction held on August 13, 2020 between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid in digital video conference format.
Solih and Modi had also interacted via video conference in April to discuss assistance to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shringla began his two-day visit to the Maldives on Monday by calling on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and held substantive discussions on India-Maldives relations, the progress of ongoing development projects under a USD 1.3 billion financial package.
India’s High Commission said Shringla will visit the Maldives to boost the partnership between the two countries. It will engage with Maldivian leadership, key ministers and a cross-section of national leadership and society, the commission said.
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