Maldives, India discuss economic cooperation during ministerial meeting
Minister Irtisham arrived in India on Tuesday following an invitation from Jaishankar.
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Irtisham Adam met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday during her first official visit to India as Foreign Minister.
Minister Irtisham arrived in India on Tuesday following an invitation from Jaishankar.
Irtisham, who previously served as the Maldives High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was appointed Foreign Minister during last month’s cabinet reshuffle after the resignation of Abdulla Khaleel.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers discussed bilateral relations between the Maldives and India and reviewed areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The ministry stated that discussions also focused on India’s role in development projects in the Maldives and on strengthening economic cooperation.
Earlier this week, President Mohamed Muizzu announced that the Maldives had repaid USD 50 million to India, part of a USD 200 million budget support facility provided during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Of the USD 200 million arranged through the State Bank of India (SBI), USD 50 million remains outstanding and is scheduled for repayment on September 17.
The Maldivian government also repaid a USD 400 million currency swap facility to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last month after the repayment deadline was extended for a third time.
Following the repayment, India extended a new currency swap facility worth 30 billion Indian Rupees, equivalent to approximately USD 319 million, to the Maldives.
