States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the government of Maldives have signed a landmark agreement, in order to improve resilience of the Maldives economic and democratic governance as well as to support inclusive and sustainable development.

The agreement was signed between the U.S government’s development agency and Maldives on 12 March and Mission Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives Reed Aeschliman and Maldivian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel had signed on behalf of the two respective parties.

The signing ceremony for the USD 20 million bilateral development agreement was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Alaina B. Teplitz and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.

Ambassador Teplitz had stated that the agreement will enable the U.S to broaden her cooperation with the people and government of the Maldives, going on to assert that it underscores their commitment to help Maldivians realize their aspirations for a “more stable” and “prosperous” future.

The agreement outlines the U.S commitment to support activities that improve public financial management, and the policy and regulatory environment for trade and investment, revealed the U.S Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The embassy further revealed that it will also reinforce key democratic governance of institutions, empower youth as well as women and help to protect critical marine habitats.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Teplitz and FM Shahid had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the “Fulbright Academic Exchange Program”. A Development Objective Grant Agreement (DOAG) was also signed between the governments of both countries during the ceremony.

First signed in 2003, the Fulbright Exchange Programme Agreement between both countries has been extended to a further five years. The MoU aims to promote the mutual understanding between the people of both countries through wider exchange of knowledge, through educational activities.

“The signing of the agreement between the two governments and the renewal of the Fulbright Academic Exchange Program for another five years is an indication of the enhanced cooperation between the Maldives and the United States. This important step by the U.S. Government will increase the exchange of knowledge amongst our people and it will support the people of the Maldives in re-establishing rule of law, reforming the judiciary, tackling corruption, building the resiliency of our communities and increasing sustainable development” the embassy cited FM Shahid.

USAID has been working in Maldives since 2011, supporting the island nation in meeting its drinking water and energy needs, strengthening government bodies, protecting maritime resources, and improving its public accounting systems. 

It had also provided Maldives with USD 12 million as relief aid and reconstruction following the 2004 tsunami.