Prepared to talk within agreement framework: GMR

Operator of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), Indian giant GMR has said that it is prepared to discuss issues with the Maldivian government within the framework of the existing agreement.

Indian paper The Hindhu reported that an official of GMR told news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) that GMR is ready to discuss Maldivian government's demands, within the agreement framework.

“We remain flexible within the framework of concession agreement...If they want to scrap the agreement, (in that case) we are finished. We have already invested more than $200 million. Our banks are watching. It is impossible for us to scrap and sit back,” the official told PTI.

When asked which points GMR is prepared to discuss, he said that the Maldivian government’s demand to build an additional airstrip and giving businesses to locals, among other things, can be discussed.

PTI reported that local political groups have alleged that the agreement signed between GMR and former President Mohammed Nasheed’s government is “illegal”, and was signed despite Parliament objections.

“Even current President Waheed Hassan has termed the agreement a 'bad contract' signed 'conceivably under dubious conditions' by the previous government,” reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the issue heated up even more in the Maldives when Government Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza recently targeted heavy criticism at the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives.

The Indian High Commission countered this with a statement saying that Abbas's criticisms were against diplomatic protocol.

Indian papers have reported that the protests in the Maldives against GMR are adversely affecting ties between Maldives and India.

The $500 million project to develop and operate INIA was awarded to GMR by former President Mohamed Nasheed's government.