Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced $1.4 billion financial assistance to Maldives after he held extensive talks with its visiting President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
During the talks, the two sides vowed to deepen security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
The two countries also inked four pacts, including one on visa facilitation besides agreeing on maritime cooperation. “We held successful talks in a cordial atmosphere. We vowed to strengthen ties,” Modi said in his press statement, with Solih by his side.
Modi also said the security interests of the two countries were intertwined and both sides will work together to further strengthen cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
“We will not allow our countries to be used for activities which can be harmful to each other’s interests,” Modi asserted.
The Prime Minister said India is extending $1.4 billion as budget support, currency swap and line of credit for the social and economic development of Maldives.
“We want greater trade ties with Maldives. There are increasing opportunities for Indian companies in the island nation,” he said.
On his part, Solih said the two sides agreed to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region through coordinated patrol and aerial surveillance.
Solih arrived here on Sunday on a three-day state visit, his first foreign trip after assuming the charge of the top office in the island nation a month ago.
Modi had attended Solih’s swearing-in ceremony on November 17.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Solih and discussed issues of bilateral and regional concern. Relations between India and the Maldives plummeted after then President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.
India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days.
The two sides signed Agreements/MoUs/Joint Declaration of Intent during the visit like Agreement on the Facilitation of Visa Arrangements, Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation and MoU for Establishing Mutual Cooperation to Improve the Ecosystem for Agribusiness;
A Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of Information & Communications Technology and Electronics was also signed.
The two sides also agreed to work together to create institutional linkages and to establish a framework of cooperation in the areas of health, particularly cancer treatment, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, Investment promotion, Human Resource Development and Tourism.
Solih is accompanied by his wife First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high level delegation comprising of Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula, Minister of Economic Development Uz Fayyaz Ismail, senior government officials, and a business delegation.
In an important gesture, Solih is staying in the Rashtrapati Bhawan as a special guest of President Ram Nath Kovind. “This demonstrates the close ties between India and the Maldives, and the warmth and mutual respect between the two Governments, a release issued by Government said.