Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has inaugurated 'Ukulhas Tech Fair 2019' and the 13th International Conference on Software, Knowledge, Information Management & Applications 'SKIMA 2019', as Special Envoy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
At the ceremony held in Alifu Alifu Ukulhas, Minister Shahid stated that building the Conference Centre will help to empower the Ukulhas community and the island Council to provide vital services to the people of the island. It has been a key focus of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration to empower island communities nationwide.
Speaking further, Minister Abdulla Shahid noted that foreign perception on the Maldives had diminished prior to the election of this administration and accordingly, this administration has given precedence in mending broken ties with the international community and improving foreign policy.
Minister Shahid also noted that India is one of the countries to support this administration's economic development objectives and programmes, and that almost MVR 8 Million was allocated towards the construction of this Conference Centre from a generous grant provided by the Indian Government. Minister Shahid took a moment to remember India's former external affairs minister, the late Sushma Swaraj, describing her as a close friend of the Maldives, a very warm human being and a key architect of the renewed dynamism in the Maldives-India relationship.
The International Convention Centre established in Ukulhas will be the first of its kind outside Male’ City and Addu City.