Last year, Maldives was able to rejoin the international community after a long hiatus, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Delivering his presidential address on Monday morning at the inaugural sitting of the People’s Majlis, Solih shed light on all of the accomplishments in foreign relations within the past year. As such, he added that during 2019, several agreements in a variety of sectors were signed with neighboring and friendly countries and Maldivians were provided numerous educational opportunities and ease for travel.

The government also received a record amount in financial aid within the past year, which funded several development projects across outlying atolls.

The government of Maldives signed visa waiver agreements with Russia, India, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which came into effect during the past year as well. Furthermore, visa waiver agreements signed with Morocco and China are also set to be implemented in the near future.

In addition, the government is also to set up a permanent visa application center for German Schengen visa in Maldives with an aim to provide ease for Maldivians who wish to travel to Germany. A visa application center is also to be opened during March.

With the full support and cooperation of the international community, Maldives officially became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations once again, on 1 February. On Saturday, Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland confirmed the country’s reinstatement into the organization.

Following this, the president highlighted that Maldives will “long strive to uphold the Commonwealth’s values of democracy and human rights” as rejoining the organization symbolizes the country’s commitment to engage with the international community and deliver pledges to the people.

The previous administration of former President Abdulla Yameen reached the decision to leave the group in 2016 after claiming that the Commonwealth was “interfering” with the country’s domestic affairs. However, Maldives formally presented the documentation required “under the membership criteria” during June 2019, after the Cabinet of Ministers passed to rejoin the organization in November 2018.

The Maldives first joined the commonwealth on 9 July 1982.