U.S. ambassador in Maldives for 'a week of important meetings'
Teplitz arrived in the Maldives for the one-week trip on Sunday
Ambassador Alaina Teplitz\'s first meeting was with Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail
United States' Ambassador to Maldives, Alaina B. Teplitz, is in the Maldives for what she described as "a week of important meetings that emphasize a commitment to an independent and prosperous Maldives."
The U.S. ambassador arrived in the island nation for the one-week trip on Sunday.
Her visit comes just a few days after the signing of a debt suspension agreement on behalf of the U.S government under the G-20 Debt Suspension Initiative, with Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Omar Abdul Razzak signing the agreement on behalf of Maldives in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 30 December 2020. This debt suspension agreement guarantees the Maldives USD 100,000 in debt relief.
Thus far, Ambassador Teplitz has met a host of parliamentarians and cabinet members to examine avenues of aid and mutual cooperation between Maldives and the United States.
One of Ambassador Teplitz's first official meetings for the trip was with the Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, where they celebrated the fact that trade between the Maldives and United States increased nearly 30 percent between 2013 and 2018 while further discussing opportunities for sustainable investment between the two nations.
Ambassador Teplitz also met with female lawmakers representing main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to discuss the impotence of women's participation in politics. Addu-Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam, Thulhaadhoo constituency MP Hisaan Hussain and Hinnavaru constituency MP Jeehan Mahmoud were in attendance to speak to Ambassador Teplitz about topics such as the issue of combatting human trafficking, as well as supporting women entrepreneurs in Maldives.
The ambassador also complimented the trio in a tweet on Sunday as representing "powerful examples of the diverse perspectives and experiences women bring to the table."
In addition to this, Teplitz met with the Minister of Communication Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal on Monday to discuss the Clean Network Initiative, which is a U.S.-led program designed as a comprehensive approach to data-privacy, telecommunications and intellectual property which safeguards the nation's assets including citizens' privacy and companies' most sensitive information from aggressive intrusions by malign actors.
The Ambassador reaffirmed the United States' commitment to support efforts to bolster cybersecurity in the Maldives at the meeting.
