His Excellency Takehiko Nakao, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has paid His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih a courtesy call this afternoon at the President’s Office.
President Solih thanked the ADB President for all that this organization has done for the Maldives since joining the organization in 1978.
Over the years the ADB has been one of the Maldives’ most important development partners, proving a boon to the Maldives’ socio-economic development efforts across every meaningful sphere.
President Solih and President Nakao discussed ways of taking forward engagements into the future, including through the provision of small grants and loans at concessional rates by the ADB to the Maldives, to facilitate development in the nation's most important economic sectors, including Tourism and Fisheries.
The ADB President highlighted that it is essential that revenue generated from tourism is equitably distributed among the Maldivian population and that all citizens are able to avail themselves through this particular industry’s economic benefits. He highlighted that towards this end, it is important to strengthen the Maldives’ guest house industry.
Further, both President Solih and President Nakao discoursed on ways of ensuring that future development occurs sustainably, responsibly and in harmony with the Maldives’ natural blessings.
The meeting concluded on a highly positive note, with the ADB President noting the sound economic ideas shaping President Solih’s Administration’s policies, thereby giving the ADB confidence that their future development schemes in the Maldives will prove to be fruitful.
