Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has arrived in Addu city in his ongoing official visit to the Maldives.
Jaishankar arrived in Addu, the second most populous city in the country, on Sunday morning. He was welcomed at the Gan International Airport by Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, Addu Mayor Ali Nizar and Addu MPs.
The Foreign Ministry said Jaishankar was in Addu to mark the conclusion of two development projects carried out with the assistance of the Indian government.
They are the land reclamation and beach protection project and the Hankede Bridge project connecting Hankede to the islands of Addu. Both projects were implemented under the line of credit provided by Exim Bank of India.
During his three-day official visit, Jaishankar met President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Foreign Minister Zameer and Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon.
Officials talks were held and two agreements have been signed to introduce the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Maldives and provide training for civil servants in India.
Jaishankar also visited the Thilamale' Bridge project site, the largest ongoing project in the Maldives with Indian assistance and held a meeting with Indian nationals residing in the Maldives.
On Saturday night, he met the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdullah Shahid.
Speaking to Adhadhu after the meeting, Shahid said the country is witnessing the vision of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih with the inauguration of projects.
"Jaishankar will visit Addu and inaugurate the land reclamation project as well as the Hankede project initiated by President Solih for Addu's development. MDP views this as the trees bearing fruit with Solih's vision," Shahid said.
Shahid. -- Photo: Hussain Hassan
Shahid said he thanked Jaishankar for inaugurating water and sewerage projects in 28 islands - projects which were started and completed with Indian assistance during the Solih government.
Acknowledging the MoU signed to train civil servants, Shahid said 1,000 employees had been trained under the program in the last five years.
Shahid also said that the MoU on UPI service was reached by the Solih government and thanked the current administration for signing the agreement.
After meeting Shahid and the MDP delegation, Jaishankar said in a post on X that he appreciated the party's efforts to strengthen relations between Maldives and India.
