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Neighbourhood First Policy: India And Maldives Sign $4.5 Million Agreement For Community Development Projects
PM Modi meeting Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (file photo) (PIB)
Furthering the bilateral engagement and cooperation, India and Maldives yesterday (23 July) signed an agreement for a grant of $4.5 million to implement community development projects in the island nation, reports Hindustan Times.
The agreement was signed between Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid, who is presently on a three-day-long visit to India. It should be noted that Shahid is also the president-elect of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the island nation of Maldives has benefited significantly from large India-backed infrastructure projects worth as much as $2 billion.
The smaller high impact community development projects are a vital part of India’s cooperation with the Maldives. The agreement signed by the ministers will lead to an additional outlay of MVR 70 million for projects, which local councils will implement.
