President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has arrived in New Delhi, India this afternoon, on a State Visit being made on the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi. The President is hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan as a guest of the President of India His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind.
First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high level delegation of the Maldives’ government are accompanying the President on his visit.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has today departed on a State Visit to India, on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. First Lady Fazna Ahmed, and a high level delegation of the Maldives’ government are accompanying the President on his visit.
Briefing the local media prior to his departure, President Solih announced plans to sign a number of bilateral agreements between the government of Maldives and the government of India, especially highlighting the agreement on visa leniency. He noted that this agreement will ease the process of obtaining dependent visa and medical visa for Maldivian travellers to India.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has this evening appointed Aishath Mohamed Didi as Ambassador to India.
The President also appointed three State Ministers this evening.
The appointments made are as follows:
1. Ali Nazeer as Minister of State for Home Affairs
2. Ahmed Shareef as Minister of State for Finance
3. Ahmed Adil as Minister of State for Transport and Civil Aviation
President Solih presented the letters of appointment to the new appointees at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this evening.
Officials from the United States Department State, Department of Commerce and the Embassy of United States of America in Colombo are currently undertaking official visits to the Maldives, to meet with the relevant stakeholders to identify and prioritise on technical assistance to the Maldives in key areas, such as public financial management, rule of law, human rights, good governance, and strengthening of civil society. They will also explore future U.S. support for justice sector reform and provide technical assistance to the government. The visits are a continuation of conversations begun by Her Excellency Alaina B. Teplitz, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, during her visit to the Maldives last November. The delegations will remain in the Maldives till 13 December 2018. Read more
The second round of the Maldives-India Consular Talks was held in Malé today.
The consular talks began in 2017, as a forum to discuss the various consular related issues faced by Maldivians and Indians travelling to, and residing in the respective countries. The first round of talks was held in New Delhi.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid welcomed the delegations prior to the start of the formal discussions. In his remarks, the Minister noted that people-to-people contact is the most important and defining strength of the over five-decade relationship between India and the Maldives, and therefore, both countries have to recommit to improving and addressing the issues faced by citizens travelling to, and residing in both countries. Ambassador of India to the Maldives Akhilesh Mishra also welcomed the delegations, and thanked the Maldives for hosting the second round of Consular Talks. In his remarks, he reiterated the commitment of the Government of India to enhancing its relationship with Maldives, and its people. Read more