Indian EAM concludes official trip to Maldives

The Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subramanyam Jaishankar, has concluded his official visit to the Maldives on Sunday and flew back home.

He made his first-ever state visit to the Maldives under the new government on Friday, on the official invitation of Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer.

Dr. Jaishankar had visited Addu City on Monday and flew directly from Gan International Airport to India.

During his visit to Addu City, Dr. Jaishankar officially handed over the completed land reclamation and shore protection initiatives to the Maldives government. The initiatives had been carried out through a USD 800 million Line of Credit from the EXIM Bank of India.

Dr. Jaishankar also officially handed over the completed water and sewerage facilities in 28 islands, also financed through the Line of Credit facility by the Indian EXIM Bank, to the Maldives government.

Following Dr. Jaishankar's official visit, bilateral relations between the Maldives and India have improved, while the External Affairs Minister said New Delhi will prioritize the archipelagic nation's progress under India's "Neighborhood First" policy.

Both Dr. Jaishankar and Zameer noted that the relationship between both countries is based on mutual benefits to the countries.

During the handover ceremony for the water and sewerage facilities, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu called India an "invaluable partner" in the development of the Maldives.

Additionally, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had also welcomed the rekindled ties between both countries, welcomed the sudden recalibration of the Maldives-India policy by Muizzu's government, and hoped this shift was not temporary or superficial.