India and Maldives today reiterated their mutual commitment to elevate the close ties of friendship and cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih deciding to provide further momentum and guidance to the ongoing substantive cooperation between the two countries.
Both leaders spoke over phone on Wednesday and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
While PM Modi reiterated that Maldives is a central pillar in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and its maritime vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), Solih thanked India for its decision to renew the quota for the import of essential commodities for a period of three years.
Quotas for essential commodities were previously granted yearly. Solih noted that this was the largest quota approved to date, and that this will bring greater predictability of imports and reassurance for businesses.
He also thanked India for cooperation and support in the fight against the Covid pandemic while discussing the ongoing socioeconomic development projects in the Maldives under India's assistance.
It was a pleasure to catch up on the phone this afternoon with my good friend PM @narendramodi. During our conversation we discussed on a host of important issues of concern to both Maldives and India from Covid19 response to cooperation in our post pandemic economic recovery. https://t.co/iYE6xEdyp0
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) July 14, 2021
President Solih noted that the continued support from India despite the Covid-19 pandemic has bolstered his government's efforts to curb the detrimental impact on the economic progress and social wellbeing of the Maldivian people during this time of need.
He reiterated his gratitude to PM Modi and the Indian government for gifting the first batch of 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine that kick-started the vaccination programme in the Maldives earlier this year.
The Maldivian President further mentioned India's assistance to evacuate Maldivian citizens from Wuhan, China at the start of the pandemic, donating and airlifting essential medicines, and for providing the expertise of a medical team to help tackle the Covid-19 health emergency.
During their conversation, Solih also noted with appreciation that establishing an air bubble between the Maldives and India has contributed significantly to gradually recover the downturn of the tourism sector due to Covid-19.
PM Modi assured India's full support to the Maldives in managing the Covid-19 recovery response. He also offered warm congratulations to Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on being elected as the President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly.
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