The Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, this morning, at the President’s Office.

At the ceremony, the President welcomed the Foreign Secretary to the Maldives and conveyed good wishes to the President of India, H.E. Pranab Mukherjee and the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Narendra Modi.

During the call, the President expressed sincere appreciation for the continued support and assistance provided by the Government of India. President also expressed his firm commitment to further elevate existing relations through different avenues of cooperation. In this regard, the President noted that commercial relations between the two countries would further enhance the greater economic cooperation and development. Additionally, the President expressed confidence in the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the Maldives, which would expedite the implementation of the different areas of cooperation between Maldives and India.

The Foreign Secretary thanked the President for receiving him and expressed pleasure for the opportunity to meet with the President. The Foreign Secretary also conveyed the good wishes to the President from the President and the Prime Minister of India, and assured that India will continue to assist and collaborate with the Maldives to enhance the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Foreign Secretary further discussed opportunities for commercial investments in the Maldives.
The President was accompanied at the call by the Minister of State for Foreign Relations at the President’s Office, H.E Mr. Mohamed Naseer and the Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed.

The Foreign Secretary was accompanied at the call by the Ambassador of India, H.E. Akhilesh Mishra and Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Mr. Sanjay Panda and Mr. M. Subbarayuda.