Addu City, Maldives – Mayor of Addu City, Ali Nizar has said that the Indian Consulate which is being discussed to be established in Addu City would not be located at the Police Training Academy being developed by India in Addu City.
Speaking at a council meeting held today, Mayor Nizar told reassured that the consulate would not be located in the Police Training Academy and that discussions had been held with Indian High Commission in Maldives regarding the matter.
Mayor Nizar further added that the consulate would be established under international standards and laws and that if necessary a building would be rented for the consulate or if council provides a place for the consulate, then it’ll be established at that location.
This comes while Mayor Nizar had previously told that he supports an Indian Consulate to be established in Addu City and that it’ll directly impact the development of Addu City.
The statement from Mayor Nizar comes after India’s Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the opening of a new Consulate General of India in Addu City, Maldives in May 25, 2021.
Although the government of Maldives has yet to approve the establishment of an Indian consulate in Addu City, Mayor Nizar stated that Addu City Council will provide full support in the matter as it is an important decision made regarding the development of Addu.
City Council will provide all the assistance needed in the matter. This will take the development of Addu in a new direction.
Addu City Mayor Nizar
Mayor Nizar noted that it is important for an Indian Consulate to be established in Addu since there are projects worth USD 200 million ongoing in the atoll with the assistance of India.
The Addu City Mayor also stated that opening a consulate office of India in Addu City would be a great ease for the residents of Addu to travel internationally and for the Indian workers in Addu city to get visa as well.
While noting that a consulate office would also allow Addu City to enter the international field, Mayor Nizar said that this would be a way for foreign investors to notice Addu City and further enhance the development of the islands of Addu.
What we want is development. In addition to Addu, establishing such a consulate would open opportunities for the development of Fuvahmulah City and the whole Huvadhoo atoll as well.
Addu City Mayor Nizar
Mayor Nizar also responded to the people who have been criticizing the establishment of a consulate in Addu city and stated that any person who politicizes the matter is a barrier to the development of Addu.
Mayor Nizar called on to not put barriers into the development of Addu City and noted that in this matter, there should not be anything that needs to be talked about politically.
If Addu cannot have a consulate, Malé also shouldn’t have embassies and consulates.
Addu City Mayor Nizar
Mayor Nizar highlighted that India has been there to assist the Maldives in every major issue the island nation has faced so far and disregarded the criticism that India is attempting to assert power in Addu.
If the government accepts the offer to establish an Indian consulate in Addu City, then it will be the first time in Maldives’ history that a diplomatic mission of a foreign country will be opened in an island other than the capital Malé city.
