Maldives has requested assistance from the Singaporean government, in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The request was made during a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, on Tuesday.

During the conversation, the Maldivian minister briefed his counterpart on the impact of the Covid-19, as well as the the measures implemented by the government to curb the spread of the virus.

He also highlighted the impact on the country’s economy, noting that Maldives “as a small island developing state is highly dependent on tourism and imports”.

Further expressing gratitude for the assistance provided by the Singaporean government as well as for the generous donations from Singaporean investors in the Maldives, Foreign Minister Shahid stressed that the Maldives continues to face various challenges due to the pandemic.

Highlighting the challenges to the health sector in coping with the pandemic, the minister requested for assistance from the Singaporean Government.

Both ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and collaboration in advancing interests on areas of mutual concern, both bilaterally and internationally.