Maldives and India signed four agreements on Monday, as part Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla’s visit.

This includes the MoU on the USD 100 million grant for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project and on Cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs as well as two MoU under the High Impact Community Development (HICDP) scheme.

The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The MoU for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project reflects the understanding on the implementation and financing of the “largest” infrastructure project to be executed in the Maldives. It involves the construction of a series of bridges and causeways that amount to 6.7 kilometres long connecting Malé to Villingili, the industrial zone in Thilafushi, together with the newly proposed International Port at Gulhifalhu.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs seeks to increase training opportunities for aspiring athletes and coaches, as well as harness new skills and gain valuable experience, thus heightening the people-to-people connections between Maldives and India.

The two other MoU signed under the HICDP scheme include a project to construct an Agricultural Research Centre in Hanimaadhoo island of Haa Dhaalu atoll, and another to finance a component of the Drug Detoxification Centre to be built in Hulhudhoo of Addu City.

Under the MoUs signed under this scheme, the Indian government will provide financial support of MVR 1,711,434.60 for the project to establish an Agricultural Research Centre as well as contribute MVR 7,980,536.69 towards the development of the Drug Detoxification Centre.

The foreign ministry said that the MoUs reflect the “steadfastness of the government in improving the socioeconomic wellbeing and public welfare, particularly in the areas of research, and community development sectors, as well as the empowerment of local communities”.

Furthermore, a ceremony was held to "recognize and appreciate" the Indian government’s support towards the procurement of Children’s Park Equipment for 67 islands, on Monday evening.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof, Members of the People’s Majlis, the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, as well as senior officials from the Government of Maldives and the Government of India.

While the project is intended to encourage the children of Maldives to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, thus improving their physical and mental wellbeing, a total of 6.7 million rufiyaa was allocated to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment to procure Children’s Park Equipment in 67 islands.