Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Monday, announced the decision by the Indian government to renew the quota for essential commodities, including river sand and stone aggregate, for a period of three years, starting from April 1, on request by the Maldivian government.
The Indian Minister concluded a two-day official visit to Maldives following an official invitation from Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid. She is the first Foreign Minister received by Shahid since assuming office.
According to a joint statement released by the two countries on the visit, both ministers welcomed the increase in trade volume over the past few years, agreeing to improve connectivity as a means to promote exchanges of goods and services, culture and people.
Additionally, the ministers recognized the need to boost involvement in the private sector and decided to hold the Maldives-India Business Forum in 2019.
Minister Shahid expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for the provision of financial assistance in the form of budgetary support, currency swap, and concessional lines of credit.
- Agreement on Exemption from Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.
- Memorandum of Understanding regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects through Local Bodies.
- Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Over the course of the visit, ongoing and future collaborations between India and Maldives, including the implementation of the agreed outcomes of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's state visit to India in December 2018, were discussed.
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