Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, His Excellency Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Distinguished Ministers, Beloved citizens of Maldives,
Ladies and gentlemen.
First and foremost, I extend a very warm welcome to you, Minister Dr. Jaishankar, to the Maldives. I wish you a fruitful and enjoyable stay in our beautiful country. Your visit at this opportune moment is a testament to the enhancement of the historic and close relations between our nations.
I am pleased to be joining you today, as we witness the hand-over of essential infrastructure projects across 28 islands of the Maldives. These projects represent significant milestones in the development of the Maldives and in our bilateral relations.
Today, we mark the completion of water supply and sewerage systems across 28 islands, funded by the Government of India’s Line of Credit facility through the EXIM Bank of India. These projects are designed to improve the quality of life in our communities. They will bring substantial economic benefits, uplift our local economies, and collectively contribute to the prosperity of our nation.
The Government and people of Maldives extend our deep gratitude to Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi, the Government, and friendly people of India for their generous and continued assistance to the Maldives.
I recall fond memories of my successful visit to New Delhi last June, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. I thank the Prime Minister once again, for inviting me to be part of the historic event, and the warm and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation.
During the visit, I had the honour to meet the Prime Minister and discuss strengthening our bilateral relations. It was also a privilege to meet the President of India Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu and discuss the importance of working together for the development and prosperity of our countries.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to you, Mr. Jaishankar, for your unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation between our two countries, and for always being ready to provide necessary assistance to the Maldives.
These High Impact Community Development Projects under Indian Grant Assistance are a testament to the deep collaboration between our nations in socioeconomic development. Many transformative projects are currently underway under this scheme, and we hope to expedite them to deliver their benefits to our communities. We are also grateful for the flexibility shown in restructuring the Line of Credit facility and the scheme.
These initiatives renew our hope for a more prosperous and fulfilling future for our people. The aid and financial assistance provided by our bilateral partners, particularly India, have been instrumental. India has always been one of our closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever we need it.
I reiterate my Government’s full commitment to strengthening the historic relations between our two countries to reach new heights in the coming years.
I also thank the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives, His Excellency Munu Mahawar and his able team for their tireless work in enhancing the bilateral relations.
Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
The relations between the Maldives and India are nurtured by centuries of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep sense of kinship. It is a relationship that is built on people-to-people connections, cultural connections, not to mention the economic ties. The Maldivian people value the close and historic ties with the Indian people, and we are committed to preserving and strengthening it.
I look forward to seeing the Maldives–India partnership thrive and continue to grow in the years ahead.
I wish peace, prosperity, and security for both Maldives and India in the future.
Thank you.