On Maldives visit, MoS Muraleedharan to launch key India-funded development projects

In what will be another reiteration of India’s commitment to the socio-economic development of the Maldives, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan will be visiting the country to launch a number of India-funded development projects.

The visit, on June 3-4, will be MoS Muraleedharan’s first to the Maldives and will highlight the growing importance of bilateral relations between the two nations.

According to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (June 2, 2023), MoS Muraleedharan will visit Addu City, the second-largest city in the Maldives, where he will have a busy itinerary. The highlight will be the ground-breaking ceremony of the Gan International Airport, symbolizing the commencement of a vital infrastructure project. The project is being funded under an Indian Line of Credit.

He will also take part in the ceremony marking the initiation of the Addu Reclamation Project, aimed at bolstering the region's development. Additionally, he will launch a number of high-impact community development initiatives in Addu City. These projects have been completed with grant assistance provided by India, showcasing the Indian government’s commitment to support the socio-economic progress of the Maldives.

According to the MEA, during his visit, MoS Muraleedharan would meet with the leadership of Maldives. The visit will also see signing of agreements related to the bilateral development cooperation in Maldives.

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’. “This visit is expected to lend further momentum to substantive cooperation and robust people to people ties between the two countries,” the MEA said.