Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has concluded his maiden official trip to Kuwait.

The foreign minister departed on his maiden visit on Monday with an aim to reaffirm Maldives commitment to foster the existing close bonds of friendship between Maldives and Kuwait. Discussions with Kuwaiti dignitaries revolved around ongoing development cooperation projects between Maldives and Kuwait and bilateral as well as multilateral issues and mutual priorities.

FM Shahid called on Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to whom he delivered a letter addressed to the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He also called on his counterpart, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Kuwait Dr. Abdullah Issa Al-Salman and the Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs of the State of Kuwait Khalifa Musaed Hamada.

During the respective meetings, the Maldivian foreign minister briefed the Kuwaiti dignitaries on the situation surrounding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the Maldives, and discussed recovery and response efforts.

Further, the minister engaged in conversation regarding ongoing development projects, future prospects for collaboration as well as exchange between both countries, during the trip.

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were also signed during the trip, with an aim to fortify cooperation between both countries.

The two MoUs were signed between Maldives and Kuwait at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait on Tuesday where FM Shahid signed on behalf of the Maldivian government whereas his counterpart signed on behalf of Kuwait.

Signed were a ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait’, and a ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the State of Kuwait in the Field of Tourism’.

The MoUs are expected to further strengthen the close ties of friendship both governments have been enjoying over the years, the foreign ministry revealed, adding that it will also see the enhancing of development cooperation in the field of tourism.

The Maldivian delegation that accompanied the foreign minister during the trip consists of the ministry’s Multilateral Secretary Dr. Hala Hameed, Director Moomina Ibrahim and Assistant Director Ahmed Salman Zaki.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries on 1 December 1977, Maldives and Kuwait have enjoyed a close partnership.

The State of Kuwait has also been an invaluable development partner to Maldives, having provided generous support and assistance over the years, the most notable contributions having been through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.