Press Statement by EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar in Maldives (August 09, 2024)
August 09, 2024
Your Excellency Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Namaskar and good evening
I am delighted to be back in Maldives and I am thankful to you, Foreign Minister for the warm welcome and hospitality. This is my first visit to the Maldives since the Government of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November 2023. This visit is an opportunity to take stock of what our countries have achieved together as well as to chart out an aspirational blueprint for the coming years of what we are confident, will be a truly multifaceted partnership.
2. Maldives is one of the cornerstones of our ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, it is also one of our Vision SAGAR, as well as of our commitment to the Global South. To put it succinctly in the words of my Prime Minister Narendra Modi – for India, neighbourhood is a priority and, in the neighbourhood, Maldives is a priority. We also share the closest of bonds of history and kinship.
3. India’s partnership with the Maldives is based on our deep desire to work together for each other’s welfare and interests. It is a partnership that has enabled us to always swiftly and effectively respond to challenges, as witnessed in the past. It is a partnership that has enabled us to deliver results and bring tangible benefits to our peoples in accordance with their wishes, aspirations and priorities. Let us appreciate that our partnership makes a difference to the everyday life of a common citizen here. Just look at the projects Minister, that you and I have just inaugurated, when we speak of a Mental Health unit, a Speech Therapy unit, Education support unit, street lights in different towns and atolls. I think we can in many ways and we do, actually change everyday lives of the common citizens.
4. Now each time I was at the Maldives, it is my endeavour to hold discussions with the leadership across diverse areas of cooperation, to see, to explore, how we can deepen them. In addition to my meeting with Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer today, I look forward to meeting the Minister of Economic Development and the Minister of Finance and listening to their views on enhancing our trade and economic cooperation which we believe has much greater potential. I would also be meeting the Defence Minister tomorrow to take stock of our defence and security engagement. As neighbours, we face common challenges and have shared interest in maintaining peace and security in the region. After all we both have very big EEZs. Our defence and security cooperation is aimed at confronting many common challenges and I look forward to fruitful discussions in that regard.
Friends,
5. I am particularly grateful to the President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for the opportunity to call on him tomorrow. I had the privilege of meeting him in June when he came to India, at the oath taking of the third term of the Modi government and I look forward to his guidance tomorrow on further enhancing our special partnership.
6. During my meeting today, we discussed various aspects of our bilateral ties, including Development Partnership, Defense and Maritime Corporation, capacity building, economic and trade ties, and people-to-people linkages. I reiterated India’s consistent and continued support to Maldives in its quest for progress and prosperity.
7. India’s development cooperation paradigm is that India’s own development is inseparable from that of the rest of the world, particularly the neighbourhood. Naturally, development cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of our partnership with the Maldives.
8. Over the next 3 days, we will be showcasing the results of our partnership and demonstrate how it has enabled the Government of Maldives to build infrastructure, broaden the economic base, make the economy more robust and resilient. In addition to High Impact Community Development Projects that we have virtually inaugurated today, I also look forward to the virtual inauguration and handing over of the Water and Sewerage Projects across 28 islands. This shall be followed by the physical tour, as the Minister mentioned, of the Addu reclamation project and the Addu detour link bridge. I have fond memories myself of visiting Addu some years ago to inaugurate the NCPLE, which is a shining example of projects that are ‘Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India’. I look forward to visiting Addu again.
9. In addition to physical infrastructure, India is also focused on partnering with Maldives for its human resource development. In recent years, we have significantly scaled up our cooperation by launching new programmes in diverse areas. It gives me great satisfaction that we are renewing the MoU between the National Centre for Good Governance and the Civil Service Commission for an additional 1000 slots for training Maldivian civil servants. We hope to build on these successes and expand this cooperation to greater heights.
Friends,
10. As you all know, India, through its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has actually revolutionized digital transactions. In India, it has taken financial inclusion to new levels, today 40 percent of the world’s real time digital payments actually take place in our country. We see this revolution, every day in our lives. I am pleased to note that the signing of the MoU today, we have taken the first step towards bringing this digital innovation to Maldives. I wish the very best to stakeholders on both sides and hope that we will soon see the first UPI transaction here. I should mention that it will have a very positive impact on tourism.
11. Before I conclude, let me underscore that we are not just close neighbours, we are also natural partners. Today, we are mutually invested in each other’s development and progress. In a globalized and interconnected world, we see a lot of volatility and global tensions. Even as the world is recovering from the impact of the COVID pandemic, we have been confronted with new challenges arising from international conflicts. In this tumultuous environment, India has been and will be, an anchor of stability for its friends, partners and neighbours. To Maldives specifically, we have provided support to deal with economic challenges through financial assistance and budgetary support, and by ensuring uninterrupted supply of critical items. Our actions have and will continue to be guided by our firm commitment in the philosophy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabke Vikas – which is- Together, we prosper”.
12. India also recognizes the need for the Global South to speak in a common voice and have an appreciation for mutually shared interests and concerns. Giving voice to the aspirations of the Global South, was the top priority for India during its G-20 Presidency. We continue those endeavors and will soon be hoping to host the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit. And Miniter, we will be very privileged to have the participation of Maldives on the occasion.
So Excellency,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
13. Let me take this opportunity once again to say how good it is to be back here in the Maldives. I look forward to my program for the remainder of the visit. And it is I must say, deeply satisfying to see the fruits of our relationship materialize in a very concrete form and I hope that my visit and the discussions which we will have Minister, will jointly lay the foundation of bigger and better things in the days to come.
Thank you very much.