Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar has arrived on an official visit to the Maldives.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar was received at Gan International Airport, Addu City by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Mayor of Addu City Ali Nizar, parliamentarians, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Jaishankar and Minister Shahid will hold official bilateral talks during which they will review progress in the many development projects being implemented in the country under the Indian grant and loan schemes. They will also exchange views on matters of mutual interest on issues of regional and international concern.
In addition, the two ministers will witness the signing of the Peering Agreement for connectivity between the Higher Education Network of the Maldives and the National Knowledge Network of India and jointly launch the network. Minister Jaishankar will also witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for reciprocal recognition of the COVID-19 vaccination certificate which would facilitate easier travel between India and the Maldives.
Minister Jaishankar is visiting Maldives to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the National College of Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE) in Addu, established under Indian grant assistance. During the visit, he will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Minister of External Affairs will also participate in the inauguration ceremony of the rehabilitation centre and the Tourism Zone in Addu developed under the Indian High Impact Community Development scheme. He will also witness the ground-breaking of the Addu Roads and Storm Water Drainage System Project and the contract awarding ceremony of the Addu reclamation project, both funded under the Line of Credit facilitated by the Government of India. In addition, Minister Jaishankar will be inaugurating the Expanded Coastal Radar System.
It is the third visit by Minister Jaishankar to the Maldives, in his capacity as the external minister, and his first to Addu City. His last visit to the Maldives was in February 2021.