The governments of the Republics of Maldives and India agree to strengthen development co-operation in a range of fields, formalizing the decisions at a special ceremony held at the President’s Office during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing state visit to the Maldives. The ceremony encompassed the joint launchings of a Composite Training Centre and Coastal Radar System by President Ibrahim Solih and Prime Minister Modi, as well as exchanges of Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) between relevant government institutions of the Maldives and India.
The MOUs include one between the Maldives’ Civil Service and the National Centre for Good Governance, which will facilitate trainings and capacity building programs for Maldivian civil servants in a wide range of fields, including: public administration; e-governance and service delivery; public policy and implementation; best practices in fisheries and coastal areas; agro-based practices; and implementing the United Nation Development Program’s (UNDP’s) Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), among other areas. A total of 1000 Maldivian civil servants will be trained and the Indian Government will provide the full expenses.
An MOU between the Maldives Customs Service and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of the Republic of India will also be signed. This agreement is intended to strengthen the capacity of Maldives’ Customs and help modernize their services. This will help facilitate both trades with other countries and increase the states’ efficiency in collecting revenue. The agreement further entails facilitating knowledge exchange on best international practice pertinent to customs; development of training and capacity building programs for customs officials, and will help promote a uniform understanding of customs related policies, procedures, and systems.
A further MOU provides for the establishment of Ferry Services for passenger and cargo shipping between the port of Cochin and Kulhudhuhfushi or any other mutually agreed ports, between the governments of India and the Maldives. This will provide the Maldives easier access to Indian markets and will benefit locals engaged in maritime commerce, and will establish routes for easy and affordable passenger travel between Maldivian and Indian ports.
With regard to the health sector, two MOUs between the two governments for health sector co-operation will also be signed entailing the exchange and training of medical professionals, cooperation in medical research and the regulation of medical products. A further MOU will be signed between the two governments for co-operation in cancer treatment.
An MOU regarding information sharing on white shipping, encompassing non-military and non-government shipping vessels will be signed between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). White shipping makes up the bulk of maritime traffic, and information sharing on such traffic will help ensure their safe passage unmolested by illegal activity and assist in their location in case of inclement weather or natural disaster. The Maldives’ maritime domain awareness capabilities will also be strengthened by the MOU on hydrography exchanged between both governments, which will further strengthen the capability of the Maldivian government to map out our coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, and better utilize the resources contained therein.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the MOU exchange ceremony.
