Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh V Shringla has departed the Maldives after concluding a two-day official visit, on Tuesday evening.

The Indian senior official arrived in the Maldives on the invitation of his Maldivian counterpart, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed.

The foreign secretaries of Maldives and India also held official discussions on a wide range of issues and reviewed progress on ongoing initiatives and projects, where both agreed on actions needed to accelerate implementation.

During the visit, Shringla held a number of meetings with senior government officials, including a call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, as well as member of the opposition.

In addition to the president, Foreign Secretary Shringla met with Speaker of Parliament and former President, Mohamed Nasheed, as well as Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Economic Development and Tourism.

Four MoUs were also signed between the two nations during the visit; on the Greater Malé Connectivity Project, Cooperation on Sports and Youth Affairs, as well as, two projects under the High Impact Community Development for the Establishment of the Agricultural Research Centre in HDh. Hanimaadhoo, and the Development of a Drug Detoxification Centre in Addu City Hulhudhoo.

The Foreign Secretary also attended the handover ceremony of the Children’s Park Equipment Project, under the Indian Grant Assistance Scheme, which was hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Development at the National Stadium.

Afterwards the ceremony, Shringla laid the foundation of the Ekuveni Synthetic Track, another project partially financed the Indian Grant Assistance Scheme.

The Indian High Commission in Maldives said that the foreign secretary's visit "served to reinforce core values of the Maldives-India partnership and further consolidated close friendly relations".

This is the Foreign Secretary’s first visit to the Maldives, since assuming office on January 29.