In recent years, the India-Maldives partnership has witnessed rapid growth in all areas of cooperation

President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will visit India from August 1 to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and review the progress made in the wide-ranging partnership between the two countries.

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, will pay an Official visit to India from 01-04 August 2022. President Solih will be accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday as it announced the visit.

In addition to holding talks with Prime Minister Modi, President Solih will meet President Droupadi Murmu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on President Solih during his stay in New Delhi.

Besides official engagements in New Delhi, President Solih will be holding discussion with an Indian business delegation in Delhi. During this visit, President Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra and participate in business events, the MEA said.

Maldives is India’s key neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy. In recent years, the partnership has witnessed rapid growth in all areas of cooperation.

According to the MEA, President Solih’s upcoming official visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review the progresses made in this wide-ranging partnership and impart direction to the two sides that will lend further momentum to this partnership.

Prime Minister Modi has in the past called the Indian Ocean island nation the “central pillar” of India’s ‘neighbourhood policy’, and maritime vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region or ‘SAGAR’.

In an address in March this year, President Solih highlighted the positive role played by India in the country’s affairs in the last two years. He thanked the Indian government for its role in helping his country cope with the Covod-19 pandemic.

During his visit to Maldives the same month, EAM Jaishankar had said that India’s partnership with the country is a force for stability in the region.