Pakistan wants to increase trade with Maldives, says Minister at President

Minister at President’s Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu), speaking to the press last night upon conclusion of President Abdulla Yameen’s state visit to Pakistan, has said that Pakistan wishes to increase trade with Maldives.

Hussain Shareef said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef noted during the visit that trade relations between the two countries can be improved, and requested to determine particular sectors in which trade can be increased.

Highlighting that this was part of the Maldives’ strategy as well, he said that the Maldivian delegation that visited Pakistan included a senior official of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and the Managing Director of State Trading Organisation (STO).

He said that the purpose of including them in the delegation was to increase trade with Pakistan in the health sector, especially in terms of pharmaceuticals and medical products.

Four Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed between Pakistan and Maldives during this visit, in the areas of education, health, sports, and drug trafficking.

The MoU on education was signed on behalf of the Maldivian government by Minister of Education Dr Aishath Shiham.

Speaking at the press conference last night, Dr Aishath Shiham said that the Pakistani government had agreed to provide assistance in terms of human resource development.

Agreements were also reached during the visit, said Dr Aishath Shiham, regarding providing training to Maldivians in the health sector, and having Pakistani health experts work in various regions in the Maldives for short durations.

She said that in addition to this, Pakistan had also assured to provide further assistance in training military personnel and teachers, and science and technology.