Maldives’ Prez Arrives in New Delhi on 3-day Visit to India

Maldives’ President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri received the visiting dignitary at the airport this afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet President Solih tomorrow and hold delegation level talks. The two leaders are expected to discuss entire gamut of bilateral relations. After the talks, agreements are expected to be inked between the two countries. Maldivian President’s visit comes nearly a month after Mr Modi attended Mr Solih’s swearing-in ceremony in Male.

India is a leading development partner of Maldives and has established many of the leading institutions in the island nation. Capacity building and skills development is one of the key components of India’s assistance to Maldives. Both countries signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities. Growing from modest beginnings, India-Maldives bilateral trade now stands at 700 crore rupees.

Indian exports to the Maldives include agriculture and poultry produce, sugar, fruits, vegetables, spices, rice, wheat flour, textiles, drugs and medicines. Indians are the second largest expatriate community in the Maldives with approximate strength of around 22,000. Indian expatriate community consists of workers as well as professionals like doctors, teachers, accountants, and engineers.

Source: AIR

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