Maldives Foreign Ministry has revealed that five agreements on six sectors will be signed between India and Maldives during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to the Maldives.
Speaking at a press conference held on Friday to inform the details of PM Modi’s visit, State Minister of Foreign Ministry Ahmed Khaleel said the MOUs to be signed between the two countries are especially targeted towards developing the human resource capacity in the Maldives.
Khaleel revealed that agreements regarding the development of customs and shipping will be signed along with an agreement to on training civil servants and youth development. An agreement will also be signed to establish a ferry service between Cochin, India and Maldives to carry passengers and goods. The ferry services between Maldives and India is being arranged according to the initial plans that were drawn up during former president Mohamed Naheed’s government, Khaleel stated.
Contrary to previous reports, Khaleel said PM Modi will not be laying the foundation of the new Indian Embassy building in Maldives, in order to carry out discussions as other foreign embassies will also be given the opportunity to relocate their embassies to reclaimed Hulhumale’ to ease the congestion in Male’.
While Modi is scheduled to arrive at Velana International Airport on Saturday afternoon, his official welcome will commence at ‘The Republic Square’ at 4:00pm. The signing ceremony of the agreements will then follow, after which the coastal surveillance radar system gifted by the government of India, and the MNDF Composite Training System established in Lh. Maafilaafushi will be inaugurated. A joint press conference by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and PM Modi will then follow.
The Indian PM will then address at the Parliament at 6:45 pm, after which the Prime Minister would attend a special banquet given by President Solih.
PM Modi is also scheduled to meet with former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, leader of Jumhooree Party Gasim Ibrahim, leader of Adhaalath Party and Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla and Vice President Faisal Naseem.
10 official delegates will be arriving with PM Modi while approximately 100 unofficial representatives are expected to arrive in the Maldives, said Khaleel.
PM Modi will be departing from Maldives on Sunday morning after concluding his visit.
