New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Monday inked a currency swap agreement to the tune of $400 million, a move that would help the archipelago nation overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also launched Rupay card in the Maldives, inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations that had hit a rocky patch last year.
Muizzu, who is on a four-day state visit, held talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House here.
After the talks, India also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives built under the EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities.
"Today, we have inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo Airport. Now, the Greater Male Connectivity Project will also be expedited. We will also support the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi," Modi told reporters here with Muizzu by his side.
Modi said India and Maldives have decided to initiate discussion on the Free Trade Agreement to further strengthen economic ties.
The prime minister described Maldives as a "close friend" which had an important position in India's neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision.
"India has always fulfilled the responsibilities of a neighbour. Today, we have taken up the vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to give our mutual cooperation a strategic direction," Modi said.
Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.
Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down the Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.
Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the 'India out' campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.
The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.
As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.
Comments
Ananth Kumar uncultured, absolutely unfit as a politician.
This man is the worst crazy type of person as peoples rep.
You can imagine if a MP is behaving like this, what could be the credentials of his party and those who elected him.
He is so stupid, he does not have brain to think, that
To follow any religion, is required who is his father or mother.
Our constitution fully empowers every citizen to follow the religion of their choice, propagate it
also.
No religion refuses anyone from following their choice of religion.
Is Rajeev Gandhi Muslim.
This so called MP does not know also, Rajeev Gandhi’s father Firoz Gandhi was a Farsi man.
I hope Rajeev Gandhi is Muslim, but we know he is not.
Becoming Muslim is it sin. Muslim means person who submits to the will of his creator the God.
I can prove that Hege’s ancestor Father was Muslim. Our first father Adam was Muslim, biologically all were Muslims. Again Muslim means person who obeys or submits to his creator.
But later as they grow, they inherited their parents or chose to remain their parents religion.
Is it sin. This is what requ
This man is the worst crazy type of person as peoples rep.
You can imagine if a MP is behaving like this, what could be the credentials of his party and those who elected him.
He is so stupid, he does not have brain to think, that
To follow any religion, is required who is his father or mother.
Our constitution fully empowers every citizen to follow the religion of their choice, propagate it
also.
No religion refuses anyone from following their choice of religion.
Is Rajeev Gandhi Muslim.
This so called MP does not know also, Rajeev Gandhi’s father Firoz Gandhi was a Farsi man.
I hope Rajeev Gandhi is Muslim, but we know he is not.
Becoming Muslim is it sin. Muslim means person who submits to the will of his creator the God.
I can prove that Hege’s ancestor Father was Muslim. Our first father Adam was Muslim, biologically all were Muslims. Again Muslim means person who obeys or submits to his creator.
But later as they grow, they inherited their parents or chose to remain their parents religion.
Is it sin. This is what required a person to be loyal to his creator and obey his creator.
May God give wisdom to this man and save his followers.
ired a person to be loyal to his creator and obey his creator.
May God give wisdom to this man and save his followers.
This person is mentally sick and does not know about parents of Rahul Gandhi. He thinks everyone like him who has no trace of his own parents. This Gowda has no trace from where he came. He should be kicked out to andaman to live with monkeys, apes etc.
this man have more more hatrate to mulsim community..
after 2019 they will make you to count your sin did in past..
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