Malé, Maldives – President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister Modi of India, today, discussed a host of important issues of concern to both Maldives and India via a phone conversation.
PM Modi assured President Solih of India’s commitment to support Maldives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and reviewed the progress of bilateral development projects. PM Modi also congratulated the President for the election of FM Shahid as UNGA President.
In addition to Covid-19 support, an economic package was announced during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s visit to India in December 2018, with USD 800 million Line of Credit issued from the Exim Bank of India, under the economic assistance package of USD 1.4 billion from India to Maldives
Statistics from March 2021, show that India will be giving a total of MVR 7,836 million as bilateral grants within the period of 2012 till 2023 making it the largest donor country to the Maldives. Out of this, a total of MVR 7,754.1 million will be given between 2018 and 2023.
According to the Indian High Commission in Maldives, at present, both countries are executing a total of nine projects, mainly under in the connectivity and infrastructure domain, worth USD 1,240 million, under three different lines of credit extended to the Maldives.
Among the projects are, establishing water supply and sewerage systems across 34 different islands of the country, development of an international cricket stadium in Hulhumalé, development of a port in Gulhifalhu, as well as the Greater Malé connectivity project, along with the relocation of the cancer hospital from Hulhumalé to Laamu Atoll and the redevelopment of Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
In addition to these, Maldivian government has also requested to include the development of Gan International Airport, located in Addu, among the projects listed under the line of credit extended by the Indian government to the Maldives.
