There have been regular meetings and engagements between India and Maldives even during the time of Covid-19 pandemic. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is visiting the island nation this Saturday.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had gone to the Maldives in November last year. A meeting took place between the two Foreign Ministers, through video conferencing in August 2020 in which several key projects and initiatives were announced. The telephone conversation took place in April 2020 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
‘India First’ has been the underlying foreign policy approach of the Maldives government. President Solih, since he assumed office in November 2018, has taken concerted initiatives on this front. This is in congruence with India’s Neighbourhood First’ policy.
According to informed sources, India’s rapid and comprehensive assistance to Maldives since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has further reinforced its credentials of being the first responder.
Maldives was the first country to receive Covid-19 vaccines from India when India gifted 100,000 doses in January 2021.
This was preceded by a series of health and humanitarian assistance provided in 2020 including donation of 5.5 tons of essential medicines, airlifting of 6.2 tons of medicines by the IAF from various India cities under Operation Sanjeevani, supply of 580 tons of food aid under Mission SAGAR by INS Kesari and deployment of Rapid Response Medical Team to assist in Covid-19 preventive methods, sources said.
India also undertook a series of economic and financial initiatives at the peak of the pandemic to revive Maldivian economy and provided extension of soft loan for budgetary support to its dwindling revenues primarily driven by tourism.
These were announced by EAM during his video conference meeting with his Maldivian counterpart in August 2020.
These included an extension of soft loan of USD 250 million for budgetary support of Maldives and supporting the implementation of the Greater Male Connectivity Project – the largest civilian infrastructure project in Maldives, connecting Male with three neighbouring islands through the construction of a bridge-and-causeway link spanning 6.7 km, with a financial package consisting of a grant of $100 million and a new Line of Credit of $400 million.
The DPR for this project has been prepared and tendering process is on.
Other initiatives include the creation of an air travel bubble to facilitate the movement of people from both sides for employment, tourism and medical emergencies.
Maldives was the first neighbouring country with which an air bubble was operationalised.
This has boosted tourist inflow in Maldives and the island country received the largest number of tourists in 2020 from India. A total of 62,905 Indians visited Maldives.
This trend has continued this year with 30,000 Indians visiting Maldives till mid-February out of 138,000 foreign tourists.
Commencement of direct cargo ferry service between India and Maldives was announced by PM Modi in June 2019 to enhance sea connectivity and provide predictability in supplies and reduce logistics cost for India Maldives trade. So far, six voyages have taken place.
Most other large development and infrastructure projects being implemented by India in Maldives are fast approaching the launching stage, sources said.
