EAM S Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to the Maldives from August 9 to 11
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday held meeting with Moosa Zameer, Foreign Minister of the Maldives and discussed various aspects of bilateral ties between the two countries, including development partnership, defence and maritime cooperation, capacity building, economic and trade engagement, and people-to-people linkages.

EAM S Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to the Maldives from August 9 to 11, the first since the government-led by President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November 2023.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, EAM Jaishankar reiterated India’s consistent and continued support to Maldives in its quest for progress and prosperity.

Earlier, both EAM Jaishankar and Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer jointly inaugurated six High Impact Projects in the areas of street lighting, mental health, children speech therapy and special education.

Both Ministers witnessed signing of MoU between National Payments Corporation of India and Maldives’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade on introduction of digital payment system in the archipelagic state.

Both Ministers also welcomed renewal of MoU between National Centre for Good Governance and Civil Service Commission on training of additional 1000 civil services officers.

Later, while holding a joint press conference with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer in Male, EAM Jaishankar said the visit is an opportunity to take stock of “what our countries have achieved together as well as to chart out an aspirational blueprint for the coming years.”
He said the Maldives is one of the cornerstones of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and “Vision Sagar.”

“To put it succinctly in the words of my Prime Minister Narendra Modi – for India, neighbourhood is a priority and, in the neighbourhood, Maldives is a priority. We also share the closest bonds of history and kinship,” EAM Jaishankar said.

He maintained that India’s partnership with the Maldives has enabled the two countries to always swiftly and effectively respond to challenges, as “witnessed in the past.”

Jaishankar also said that the partnership between the two countries has also enabled the two countries “to deliver results and bring tangible benefits to our people in accordance with their wishes, aspirations and priorities.”

Highlighting cooperation between India and the Maldives on defence and security, Jaishankar said, “We face common challenges and have shared interest in maintaining peace and security in the region.

“After all we both have very big EEZs (exclusive economic zones). Our defence and security cooperation is aimed at confronting many common challenges and I look forward to fruitful discussions in that regard,” EAM Jaishankar said during the joint press conference with his Maldivian counterpart.

Emphasizing that development cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of India-Maldives partnership, he said it has “enabled the Government of Maldives to build infrastructure, broaden the economic base, make the economy more robust and resilient.”

EAM Jaishankar said in addition to physical infrastructure, “India is also focused on partnering with Maldives for its human resource development.”

“In recent years, we have significantly scaled up our cooperation by launching new programmes in diverse areas. It gives me great satisfaction that we are renewing the MoU between the National Centre for Good Governance and the Civil Service Commission for an additional 1000 slots for training Maldivian civil servants. We hope to build on these successes and expand this cooperation to greater heights,” Jaishankar said.

He said in the midst of volatility and global tension, “India has been and will be, an anchor of stability for its friends, partners and neighbours.”

“To Maldives specifically, we have provided support to deal with economic challenges through financial assistance and budgetary support, and by ensuring uninterrupted supply of critical items. Our actions have and will continue to be guided by our firm commitment in the philosophy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabke Vikas – which is- Together, we prosper,” the EAM maintained.

He said giving voice to the aspirations of the Global South, was the top priority for India during its G-20 Presidency. “We continue those endeavors and will soon be hoping to host the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit. And Miniter, we will be very privileged to have the participation of Maldives on the occasion,” the EAM added.