Six agreements to be signed during Modi’s visit

Six agreements will be signed between Maldives and India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, states the Maldives Foreign Ministry.

Modi’s first visit to a foreign country after his re-election will be to Maldives on Saturday.

At a press conference on Friday, State Minister Ahmed Khaleel said that the agreements will be for the improvement of Maldives’ human resources.

The agreements are based on the health sector, the economy, capacity building for civil servants, improving expertise in the economic sector, white shipping, and hydrography.

Khaleel said the foundation for the Indian embassy will not be laid during Modi’s visit since they are still discussing the transfer of embassies to Hulhumale’ due to the congestion in capital Male’.

He also said that the agreement to establish a ferry service between India and Maldives will be based on the negotiations made during President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

Modi is set to arrive in Maldives on Saturday afternoon and will be greeted at Republic Square at 4pm. Afterwards, Modi will head to the President’s Office where, in a joint press conference, he will inaugurate projects to establish the Composite Training Center and the Coastal Surveillance Radar System.

Modi will be giving an address at the Maldives parliament after the maghrib prayer.

He will also be meeting Vice President Faisal Naseem and Maldives’ political leaders including former President Maumoon Abdul gayoom, Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, as well as Adhaalth Party leader and Home Minister Imran Abdulla, before concluding his visit on Sunday.