May 30th 2024.
A spokesperson from the Indian mission shared that India has been actively supporting 65 community development projects in the Maldives, with a total worth of $23 million. They also mentioned that significant progress has been made in implementing these projects. Out of the 47 High Impact Community Development Projects approved by the Indian government until November 2023, eight have already been completed.
Despite recent diplomatic tensions, India remains committed to supporting the development of the Maldives and has invested MVR 360 million in various projects in the archipelagic nation. The High Commission of India stated that these projects are selected based on the priorities set by the Maldivian government and are carried out by institutions appointed by the government.
According to news portal Edition.mv, the Indian High Commission expressed their satisfaction with the steady progress of the Greater Male Connectivity Project, which is being implemented with a grant and concessional credit of USD 500 million. They believe that this infrastructure project will bring about significant economic growth and improve the quality of life for the people of the Maldives. This announcement was made on the High Commission's official social media handle.
The Indian High Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives recently held a two-day meeting to review the progress of ongoing projects. It was noted that while eight projects have been completed, the remaining High Impact Community Development Projects are at different stages of progress. These projects cover a range of areas and are spread across various atolls, including the establishment of fish processing plants, drug detoxification centers, cultural centers, youth centers, and sports complexes.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador at Large Ahmed Naseer and High Commissioner of India to Maldives Munu Mahawar. Senior government officials and other stakeholders also participated in the discussion. The Indian government and the Maldivian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 17, 2019, for the implementation of these High Impact Community Development Projects through local institutions. The initial grant amount was $5.5 million, but it was later increased to MVR 155 million in 2021. In January 2023, another MoU was signed, adding an additional $6.5 million to the grant, bringing the total amount received by the Maldives from India for these projects to $16.5 million. The Indian government has also provided cash grants worth over $7 million for multiple projects.
India-Maldives relations faced a setback when President Mohamed Muizzu, who took office in November 2023, demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from three aviation platforms in the Maldives. The last of the military personnel were repatriated earlier this month and were replaced by civilian personnel from India.
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