Maldives Welcomes PM Modi with Guard of Honour; India Offers $565M Line of Credit
Male (The Uttam Hindu)- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a formal welcome ceremony and guard of honor at the Republic Square in Maldives capital Male on Friday. He has arrived on a two-day state visit to Maldives. Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu was also present on this occasion. Maldives invited PM Modi to its 60th Independence Day celebrations and a 21-gun salute was given to welcome the PM here.
During the ceremony,
children welcomed PM Modi by presenting a traditional dance. After this, bilateral talks took place between the two leaders. During this, in honor of PM Modi, the Defense Ministry building in Male was decorated with a picture of PM Modi. His big picture was put on the building. Earlier, President Muizzu himself reached the airport and warmly welcomed Prime Minister Modi. During this, Maldives' Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister and Home Security Minister were also present. PM Modi posted on the social media platform 'X' and said, "Reached Male. I am overwhelmed by President Muizzu himself coming to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will touch new heights of progress in the times to come."
Decision to provide loan assistance of $ 565 million
PM Modi also said that to give a new flight to our development partnership, we have decided to provide loan assistance of $ 565 million i.e. about Rs 5000 crore to Maldives.
What Maldives got from India
– Extension of Line of Credit to Maldives by Rs 4,850 crore
– Reduction in annual debt service obligations of Maldives on Government of India funded Line of Credit
– India and Maldives start negotiations on Free Trade Agreement
– Handing over of 3,300 housing units in Hulhumale under India’s Buyers Credit Facilities
– Inauguration of Road and Drainage System Project in Addu City
– Inauguration of 6 High Impact Community Development Projects in Maldives
– Transfer of 72 vehicles and other equipment
The Indian community present at the Republic Square welcomed Prime Minister Modi with slogans of 'Vande Mataram'. PM Modi also met the children present there and signed the paintings made by them. On reaching Kurunba Village Resort, the children performed traditional classical dance. A child said, "I made this painting with the help of my mother. I did not believe that the Prime Minister would actually autograph it. When he signed, I jumped with joy!" PM Modi shared pictures of his meeting with the Indian community in his X post and wrote, "The Indian diaspora plays an important role in strengthening the friendship between India and Maldives. I express my gratitude for their warm welcome." On Saturday, PM Modi will attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives as the chief guest. This is his third visit to Maldives, and the first official visit of any head of state after President Muizzu took office.
Let us tell you that this is the same Maldives where some ministers had made objectionable remarks on PM Modi last year. After this comment, Boycott Maldives started trending in India. However, now the attitude of Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu has completely softened. There was a time when Mohammad Muizzu gave the slogan of India Out and through this slogan he achieved the post of President. Muizzu, intoxicated with the arrogance of power, was constantly speaking anti-India things. However, with time, there has been a lot of change in him. The reason behind this is that India gave strong shocks to Maldives on many occasions. After the PM's comment, Indian tourists had almost stopped going to Maldives. Tourism generates a large revenue of Maldives. But the impact of the comment made on the PM was seen and only 1 lakh 30 thousand tourists went to visit Maldives in the year 2024. In such a situation, the government there started understanding how important Indians are for them. Seeing this, the attitude of the President of Maldives completely softened.