President Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bolstering the longstanding and close ties between the Maldives and India. He underscored this commitment at a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Saturday which marked the completion of water supply and sewerage network development projects across 28 islands, all funded by the Indian government through a Line of Credit Facility from EXIM Bank of India.

In his remarks at the ceremony, which was attended by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, President emphasised that these initiatives will deliver substantial economic advantages, enhance local economies, and collectively advance the nation’s prosperity. He also noted that these projects represent significant milestones in the Maldives’ bilateral relations with India.

President Muizzu also highlighted India’s pivotal role as one of the Maldives’ closest allies and invaluable partners, noting its consistent support and aid whenever the Maldives needed it.

President Muizzu expressed deep gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government, and the people of India for their generous and continued assistance to the Maldives. He noted that his recent visit to India, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Indian leader, provided an opportunity to meet both Prime Minister Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

President Muizzu also noted that the High Impact Community Development Projects, supported by Indian Grant Assistance, exemplify the close engagement between the two countries. 

“Many transformative projects are currently underway under this scheme, and we hope to expedite them to deliver their benefits to our communities,” he said. “We are also grateful for the flexibility shown in restructuring the Line of Credit facility and the scheme.”

During his ongoing visit to the Maldives, the Indian External Affairs Minister also called on President Muizzu. During their meeting, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the Maldives across various domains, the President’s Office said.

The discussions covered existing projects and potential areas of collaboration, spanning economic development, housing, defence, tourism, capacity building, and infrastructure enhancement, the statement reads.

Speaking with the Indian Minister, President Muizzu expressed gratitude for India’s continued support and highlighted the importance of further strengthening bilateral ties, the President’s Office said.