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Tuesday 11 Feb 2025
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Maldivian Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla (L) visits Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (R) in India on February 11, 2025. (Photo/X/Lok Sabha Speaker)
Om Birla, the Speaker of Lok Sabha – the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, has pledged to extend technical support to the People’s Majlis of Maldives to digitalize its parliamentary resources.
Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is on a four-day official visit to India, called on Birla at the Lok Sabha premises on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Abdul Raheem expressed appreciation for the usage of technology, digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence by the Indian Parliament, and requested Birla to extend technological support to help the Majlis digitalize its parliamentary resources.
According to the official X account of the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Birla “assured him to extend every possible help from Parliament of India to People’s Majlis of Maldives in this regard.”
Birla also told Abdul Raheem that the Majlis may avail the facilities of the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha for capacity building of Maldivian legislators and officials.
Birla also highlighted on the historic ties and people to people connections between Maldives and India, and reiterated that the Maldives occupies a special place in India's 'Neighborhood First' policy and its vision for SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
Abdul Raheem travelled to India on Monday at the invitation of Birla and Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha – the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
He is accompanied by a delegation of Maldivian nine parliamentarians; Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, Huraa MP Dr. Anara Naeem, Kendhikulhudhoo MP Mohamed Afoo Hamid, Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef, North Henveiru MP Ahmed Aifan, Kudahuvadhoo MP Hussain Hameed, Gemanafushi MP Asadhullah Shihab, and Kurendhoo MP Mohamed Shamin Habeeb.
The Majlis said the visit underscores the commitment of both nations to fostering a deeper parliamentary partnership and furthering diplomatic cooperation.
