MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan to be on 2-day visit to Maldives from 3 June

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is set to embark on an official two-day visit to Maldives from Saturday. This visit marks Muraleedharan’s first official trip to the Maldives.

During his visit, Muraleedharan will travel to Addu City, the second largest city in Maldives. He will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gan International Airport and also join the ceremony for the commencement of the Addu Reclamation project, the ministry of external affairs said.

Additionally, the minister will inaugurate High Impact Community Development Projects that have been constructed with the assistance of India’s grants.

Muraleedharan is scheduled to meet with the leadership of Maldives, where discussions on bilateral cooperation and development are expected to take place. The visit will also witness the signing of agreements pertaining to bilateral development cooperation in Maldives.

The Maldives holds significant importance as India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It plays a crucial role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighborhood First Policy’.

According to the ministry, this visit aims to further strengthen the substantive cooperation and robust people-to-people ties between the two countries.