Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu thanked India on Thursday for "constant" financial aid to the Indian Ocean archipelago as he returned home after his "landmark" five-day state visit to India - his first since assuming office in November last year - at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu.
During the visit, Muizzu met President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a bilateral summit and held discussions with many other senior Indian government officials to strengthen the friendship and development partnership between the Maldives and India.
"A salient outcome of the visit was the adoption of a 'Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership', that will guide the bilateral relationship across various sectors", reads a statement by the Maldives President's office on Thursday.
The two countries also carried out virtual inaugurations and exchanged agreements.
The two leaders discussed the ongoing initiatives and opened new avenues of cooperation in the bilateral high-level talks with PM Modi. Discussions were made on social housing, infrastructure development, agriculture and fisheries, trade and investment, human resource development, health, women's empowerment, renewable energy, and maritime and security cooperation.
"President Muizzu thanked India for its financial aid, including the rollover of T-bills in May and in September this year for another year without interest to the Maldives and the additional support of INR 30 billion to $400 million under a bilateral currency swap agreement. He thanked India for consistent support, especially during challenging times," it added.
During the visit, the Maldivian President accompanied his First Lady Sajidha Mohamed to Agra and met Indian business persons in Mumbai and Bangalore.
"In his speeches at the business forums organised in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, Muizzu expressed Maldives' huge tourist venture potential and also specified areas that would see future collaboration. He focused on the economic diversification and sustainable development vision of the country. Special economic zones, luxury private islands, green resorts, and integrated tourism projects are among the prospective fields for investment," his office said.
He visited in Mumbai Maldives-India Tourism Networking Evening, an event where leaders of tourism of both countries met to explore opportunities on investments and partnerships in tourism.
Muizzu also met with communities of Maldives in New Delhi and Bangalore where he listened to the grievances and reiterated that the government is committed to supporting citizens working abroad.
Meanwhile, the First Lady Sajidha paid a visit to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and her old alma mater- the St. Joseph's University in Bangalore.
As the two nations approach the 60th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic relations next year, President Muizzu invited Prime Minister Modi as well as President Murmu to undertake a state visit to the Maldives. The state visit concluded positively, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strengthening their long-standing relationship and working towards mutual growth and prosperity," the statement detailed.
