President Solih returns after three-day state visit to India

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has returned to Maldives on Tuesday evening, after his first overseas visit since assuming office.

President Solih traveled to India on Sunday, on a three-day official visit, and was officially welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a 21-gun salute on Monday morning.

Later that day, President Solih held meetings with the president and PM, as well as the vice president and external affairs minister.

While official talks were held between the president and PM Modi, both sides signed four key agreements.

READ MORE: Maldives, India sign four agreements

At a joint press statement given afterwards, the prime minister announced India’s decision to provide financial assistance up to USD 1.4 billion in the form of “budgetary support, currency swap and concessional lines of credit to fulfil socio-economic development programmes.”

President Solih was joined by First Lady Fazna Ahmed on the trip, and were hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as special guests of the Indian president.

The first couple was joined by a high-level delegation, comprising of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Mohamed Aslam, Transport Minister Aishath Nahula, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, senior government officials, and a business delegation.

During the trip, President Solih also met with Maldivians staying in India.