President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed returned to the Maldives this afternoon, marking the end of their five-day state visit to India from 6 to 10 October 2024.
This landmark visit was President Dr Muizzu's first state visit since taking office in November 2023, at the invitation of Indian President Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu.
During the visit, President Dr Muizzu held high-level meetings with President Murmu, Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi, and several other senior Indian government officials. These discussions centred on strengthening the friendship and development partnership between the Maldives and India.
A significant outcome of the visit was the adoption of "A Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership," which will guide the bilateral relationship across various sectors. The two countries also conducted virtual inaugurations and exchanged agreements.
During the high-level talks with Prime Minister Modi, both leaders discussed ongoing initiatives and explored new avenues for cooperation. The discussions covered areas such as social housing, infrastructure development, agriculture and fisheries, trade and investment, human resource development, healthcare, women's empowerment, renewable energy, and maritime and security cooperation.
President Dr Muizzu expressed gratitude for India's financial assistance, including the rollover of T-bills in May and in September this year for an additional year with no 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 its consistent support, especially during challenging times.
The President travelled to Agra, as well as Mumbai and Bangalore as part of this trip where several meetings and events took place. In his remarks at the business forums held in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, President Dr Muizzu highlighted the Maldives' significant potential for tourism ventures and outlined opportunities for future collaboration. He emphasised the nation's vision for economic diversification and sustainable growth, mentioning key investment prospects such as special economic zones, luxury private islands, eco-friendly resorts, and integrated tourism projects. In Mumbai, the President and First Lady attended a Maldives-India Tourism Networking Evening, which served as a platform for industry experts from both countries to explore mutually beneficial tourism investment opportunities.
The visit also included cultural exchanges, with the President and First Lady touring the historic Taj Mahal in Agra.
Moreover, the President met with Maldivian communities in New Delhi and Bangalore, listening to their concerns and reaffirming the government's commitment to supporting citizens abroad.
During the visit, First Lady Sajidha visited the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and her alma mater, St. Joseph's University in Bangalore.
As the two nations approach the 60th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic relations next year, President Dr 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.
