Indian foreign minister arrives in Maldives on 2-day visit
Jaishankar will join Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the groundbreaking ceremony of Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in the Maldives Wednesday to attend a ceremony to begin work on the development of HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
Government had in September signed an agreement with India's JMC Projects to develop the international airport on the island of Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, a development touted as the biggest infrastructure development project in the northern part of the country.
Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid received his Indian counterpart as he flew directly to the Maafaru airport in the north from New Delhi. The two then travelled by sea to the neighbouring island of Manadhoo where the Indian external affairs minister was given a warm welcome.
During the visit, Jaishankar will join Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the groundbreaking ceremony of Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project, being constructed under an Indian credit line, Wednesday evening.
The project was awarded to India's JMC for MVR 2.1 billion, shortlisted by the Exim Bank of India from among four Indian bidders.
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Hanimaadhoo International Airport is being redeveloped under a $800 million line of credit provided by Exim Bank of India
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The project is expected to be completed and begin services in 2024
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A 2.46 km runway and a brand new terminal with the capacity to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually will be built
Jaishankar, who is on his fourth visit to the Maldives since assuming office in 2019, will also call on President Solih and Shahid.
Both ministers are scheduled to hold official talks and witness the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries at a ceremony to be held in N. Manadhoo.
Jaishankar will also participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Sh. Foakaidhoo community centre. He will also visit HA. Utheemu and tour the historical sites.
