Minister of State for External Affairs of India, V. Muraleedharan has concluded his official visit to the Maldives.

Upon his arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) on June 3, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs was received by senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He departed from VIA after concluding the brief visit, on Monday. He was seen off at VIA by senior officials of the foreign ministry.

As part of the visit, the Indian State Minister paid a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

During the meeting, the president stated that the key agreements exchanged between the governments of Maldives and India as part of the Indian State Minister’s visit, will foster greater collaboration

Taking to Twitter following the meeting, State Minister Muraleedharan revealed that the time-tested and trustworthy partnership between India and the Maldives is poised to scale further new heights.

During the call, President Solih extended condolences to the government of India and the affected families following the tragic train accident that took hundreds of lives in Odisha State. The president assured that the government and people of Maldives will remain in steadfast solidarity with the people and government of India during this difficult and challenging time. Conveying best wishes for a successful recovery operation, President Solih conveyed his warmest regards to President of India Droupadi Murmu as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

State Minister Muraleedharan expressed gratitude to the Maldivian leader for his message of condolence as well as the government’s unwavering support.

The meeting also saw President Solih expressing satisfaction over the commencement of several significant projects during the Indian State Minister’s visit to the Maldives, in particular, the Gan International Airport (GIA) expansion project as well as the Addu land reclamation project.

President Solih noted that these projects have only been made possible with the support and cooperation of the Indian government.

Highlighting that the GIA expansion project holds massive potential to mold the country's economic landscape, facilitating the establishment of a robust economic hub in the south, the president stated that the agreements under the high-impact community development project scheme signed between the two countries during the Indian State Minister’s visit are expected to encourage greater collaboration and strengthen the ties between both governments.

The president went on to express his sincere appreciation to the Indian government for its continued support in diverse domains such as infrastructure development, community empowerment, capacity building, healthcare sector advancement, sports cooperation, and tourism.

President Solih and the Indian State Minister expressed shared commitment to enhance bilateral relations through increased cooperation and people-to-people contact between Maldives and India.

The Indian State Minister also called on Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid. During the meeting, FM Shahid reflected on the historic relationship between the two countries.

He also expressed gratitude to the Indian government for the constant support to facilitate the socioeconomic development of the Maldives.

FM Shahid and State Minister Muraleedharan also reviewed the significant milestones achieved through robust cooperation between both countries particularly in the past four and half years.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further intensify the relations between both countries.

Further, FM Shahid and the Indian State Minister witnessed the exchange of ten agreements as part of the visit.

At the ceremony held at the foreign ministry on Sunday, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and Indian High Commissioner to Maldives, Munu Mahawar exchanged a total of 10 MOUs.

During the ceremony, both Foreign Minister Shahid and State Minister Muraleedharan witnessed the gifting of Antituberculosis medication from India, to the Ministry of Health. The Anti-TB medication was received on behalf of the government by Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru.

Muraleedharan also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of Addu City reclamation project and Gan International Airport development project being constructed under the Indian line of credit.

In Addu City, FM Shahid and the Indian State Minister jointly inaugurated the Hithadhoo Tourism Zone – Falhoadhandifannu, Feydhoo Tourism Zone - Dhigihera and Hulhudoo Tourism Zone - Maafishi developed under Indian grant assistance in Addu City.