Maldives president, Ibrahim Mohammad Solih, in his national address thanked the Indian Government for helping his country including gifting vaccines while highlighting the positive role played by India in the recent pandemic years. In his national address, Solih singled out New Delhi for assisting his country’s Covid-19 response efforts.
In January-February 2021, India gifted Covishield vaccine doses numbering 200,000 to the Maldives which set the stage for a swift and successful vaccination drive in the country. Today, around 90% of the eligible population is vaccinated in the country. This has enabled the country to get back on a recovery path and expedited the progress of the Maldivian economy. “In the last two years, India has generously aided us on many occasions. India donated the most number of vaccines. India purchased financial bonds worth US$ 250 million to help recover our economy. We received a lot of equipment from India essential to provide health services,” Solih said.
While underlining the importance India had given them, Maldives president said, “India eased up access for Maldivians requiring urgent health care, allowing them to travel to the country. This privilege was not afforded to any other country besides the Maldives.” Solih added, “I also wish to thank, on behalf of all Maldivians, our friendly bilateral partners who assisted our Covid-19 response efforts. I take this opportunity to highlight India, Japan, USA, UAE, China, Bangladesh, WHO and some of the UN agencies for their support.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “the Maldives has always been a close and important maritime neighbour for India.” MEA said in its annual report said, “India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and Maldives’s “India First” policy work in tandem to tackle shared concerns and advance mutual interests.”