Former president Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday stated that the national debt of Maldives can be decreased by the end of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's term.
Speaking to the media after returning to capital Male' after concluding his visit to neighboring India, Nasheed said although foreign aid is assured for Maldives, money earned by one's hard work is more noble, allowing one to stand up on ones' own feet.
"This is the direction we are headed to. I believe by the end of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's term, our national debt will be decreased", said Nasheed.
Speaking on the country's economy, Nasheed added that the country's income will exceed expense by the end of term.
President Nasheed met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his visit to India.
In a Tweet published following the meeting, Nasheed said a strong, stable, and prosperous Maldives is not just in the interests of the Maldivian people, but the whole Indian Ocean region. No other details of the meeting were disclosed by either party.
Nasheed visited India on the invitation of Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Nehru University. The former president delivered a speech on Democracy at Nehru University, and spoke on climate change at ICCR.
This was the former presidet's first visit to India after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took Office in November, although he frequently visited the country during his time in self-exile before the new government took over administration.
The bilateral relations between Maldives and India has improved significantly after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took Office in November, before which the relationship between both countries was extremely strained. President Nasheed has always been an advocate of India.
