President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has on Sunday morning departed to India.

While this is the president's maiden state visit abroad since assuming office, his spouse First Lady Fazna Ahmed accompanied him on the trip.

The first couple is to stay at Rashtrapati Bhawan- the official presidential palace located in the center of Delhi during the three-day trip, where an official welcoming ceremony will be held on Monday morning.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Mohamed Aslam and Transport Minister Aishath Nahula accompanied him as well.

President Solih and delegation departed from Velana International Airport on Sunday morning and the flight is expected to land in New Delhi in the afternoon.

The two countries are to sign important agreements during the trip, including a visa agreement as well as a free-aid agreement of USD 200 million. It is deemed that the visa agreement will pave way for efficiency for Maldivian students residing in India as well as for those incessantly travelling there for medical and other purposes.

During the trip, President Solih will be meeting with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during the visit.