Maldives key partner for India in Indian Ocean region: Jaishankar
The Maldives is a key partner for India in the Indian Ocean region and the two nations aspire to turn their cooperation into a modern partnership, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday.
S Jaishankar made these remarks while attending the handing-over ceremony of the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and the inauguration of the 4-lane Detour Link road project, both of which were facilitated by the Indian government through the EXIM Bank's Line of Credit. The event was also attended by Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer.
'For us, the Maldives is a crucial partner in the Indian Ocean region. It holds a central place in our Neighbourhood First policy. Naturally, the cooperation between our countries has evolved beyond its traditional scope, and we now aim to establish a modern partnership,' Jaishankar noted.
He emphasized that India's development cooperation with the Maldives is focused on improving various aspects of people's lives and finding ways to deliver tangible benefits.
Over the past few years, India has invested approximately 220 million US dollar in the Maldives, reflecting the importance India places on regional development, Jaishankar highlighted.
He further explained that India has collaborated with the Maldivian government on the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection project, aiming to develop the area into a sustainable regional hub. The project, which involved the reclamation of 184 hectares of land, was completed earlier this year. This ambitious 80 million dollar initiative is geared towards tourism development and the broader economic growth of Addu.
The project is expected to contribute to the region's overall development, creating better opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and trade.
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