India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a two-day official visit to the Maldives, has on Sunday unveiled a plague of renovated Indian Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in the island nations.
According to ANI news reports, Swaraj, who visited the Maldives on the invitation of Male’ foreign minister Abdullah Shahid, was accompanied by Vijay Gokhale, India’s foreign secretary, including other senior officials.
The IGMH was built in 1995 with the Indian assistance and then, was inaugurated by ex-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. The IGMH considered being the first and largest govt. healthcare facility in Male.
In a tweet, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar wrote: “Commitment to the welfare of the people of Maldives EAM @SushmaSwaraj unveils a plaque dedicating the renovated IGM Hospital to the people of Maldives in the city of Male. IGMH is the first and largest government healthcare facility in the Maldives, built with Indian assistance.”
Commitment to the welfare of the people of Maldives
EAM @SushmaSwaraj unveils a plaque dedicating the renovated IGM Hospital to the people of Maldives in the city of Male. IGMH is the first and largest government healthcare facility in Maldives, built with Indian assistance. pic.twitter.com/OKFHhducxQ
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 17, 2019
Male and India have exchanged three agreements over visa facilitation for official and diplomatic passport holders, renewable energy, and development cooperation in the presence of Shahid and Swaraj.
Male’ foreign ministry took the development to twitter and wrote: “India and Maldives add new dimensions to age-old ties by exchanging 3 agreements in the presence of FM @abdull_shahid and external affairs minister @SushmaSwaraj on visa facilitation for diplomatic and official passport holders, development cooperation, and renewable energy.”
After the meeting was concluded with Swaraj, Shahid said, “The relationship between Maldives and India is indeed special.”
Later, Swaraj called on the speaker of parliament Qasim Ibrahim and Reiterated India’s commitment to supporting the Maldives in its path of peace, development, prosperity & democracy, according to MEA spokesperson Kumar.
Shared faith in democratic principles.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on the Speaker of the Parliament of #Maldives, the People’s Majlis, Qasim Ibrahim. Reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Maldives in its path of peace, development, prosperity & democracy. pic.twitter.com/iXDvLeNfSp
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 17, 2019
On the second day of her visit, Swaraj is slated to call on Maldives President Ibrahim Solih and minister of home affairs Sheikh Imran Abdulla.
In a tweet, Male’s ministry of foreign affairs wrote: “Exchanging views on ongoing and future collaboration. Minister @SushmaSwaraj and Minister Shahid hold bilateral talks, and agree on a broad spectrum of issues for further collaboration, including development cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people contact.”
Exchanging views on ongoing and future collaboration.
Minister @SushmaSwaraj and Minister Shahid hold bilateral talks, and agree on a broad spectrum of issues for further collaboration, including development cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people contact.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/2bWsLPyZX9
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇲🇻 (@MoFAmv) March 17, 2019
It also tweeted: “Close bonds of friendship Good meeting between EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Maldives Minister of Home Affairs @ShimranAb on the second day of her visit to the Maldives. Discussed steps to continue the upward trajectory in our bilateral relationship.”
Close bonds of friendship
Good meeting between EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Maldives Minister of Home Affairs @ShimranAb on the second day of her visit to Maldives. Discussed steps to continue the upward trajectory in our bilateral relationship. pic.twitter.com/G05m7R94MP
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 18, 2019