President Solih discusses Maldives, India relations with Indian Foreign Secretary

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held bilateral discussions to further Maldives-India relations with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. 

India’s Foreign Secretary is in the Maldives for an official visit. This is the first high-level bilateral visit from a senior official of India to the Maldives in 2020. Secretary Shringla will conclude his visit to the Maldives tomorrow. 

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih met with the Foreign Secretary of India at the President’s Office today. The President noted that 2020 was the 55th year of official diplomatic relations between the close neighbors and the relationship between the two nations was evident from the visit by the senior government officials to each other. President Solih also thanked India for its assistance to the Maldives during the pandemic. 

President Solih also noted the air travel bubble established between Maldives and India which had increase the number of tourist arrivals to the Maldives from India as well as allowing Maldivians to travel to India for medical purposes. 

Discussions ranged from economic relations and cooperation as well as developing tourism. President Solih also thanked India for the aid received for a cancer hospital, Gulhifalhu Port project, sewerage system projects as well as the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project.