India grants MVR 100m for Maldives projects; gifts 2 sea ambulance

Maldives and India on Wednesday signed an agreement to expand community development projects in the Maldives through additional MVR 100 million in grant funding. 

The agreements were signed at a ceremony held in N. Manadhoo during Indian external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar's ongoing visit to the Maldives. Jaishankar arrived in the Maldives Wednesday to attend a ceremony to begin work on the development of HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport.

The two agreements signed by state foreign minister Ahmed Khaleel and the Indian high commissioner in Maldives Munu Mahawar include: 

Additionally, Vice Chancellors of both Maldives National University and Cochin University of Science and Technology exchanged an MoU on capacity building to facilitate exchanges and cooperative initiative between the two universities in the area of education, research, development instruction, community service, staff and student exchanges.

During the ceremony, both foreign minister Shahid and his Indian counterpart also witnessed the handover of two sea ambulances to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

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.

Jaishankar, who is on his fourth visit to the Maldives since assuming office in 2019, will also call on President Solih and Shahid.