Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof departed on an Indian Ocean tour on Sunday night, to garner support for Maldives’ bid to host the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in 2023.

They are to visit Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros, and are traveling a as special envoys of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking to the press prior to their departure from Velana International Airport, Minister Shahid said that the government is working to host the games in order to “develop the country’s sports infrastructure.”

He said that if Maldives wins the bid “it will benefit the youth for years to come.”

The minister also expressed confidence that they will succeed in the work.

Furthermore, noting that the Indian Ocean Island Games was the first-ever international event that the Maldives competed in, the minister said that the foreign ministry will provide all assistance required to ensure that it is held here.

The delegation is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Danny Faure of Seychelles, where they will present a letter from President Solih to him.

They will also meeting with other senior government officials, including both their counterparts.

The high-level delegation will also meet with the prime ministers of Mauritius and Comoros, and other senior officials, during their visits to the country.

A team from IOIG Council was in the Maldives recently.

During a press conference held at the youth ministry on Friday, the council President Antonio Ghopal said that Maldives is “ready to host the games.”