India and Maldives signed three Memorandum of Understandings

India and Maldives signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on 2 January 2014.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom made his first visit to India after the election in Maldives and appreciated India’s equidistant approach during the Maldives presidential election.

The following MoUs were signed:

• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Health

• Exchange of Letters on extending the Memorandum of Understanding on Manpower requirements of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital

• Memorandum of Agreement for allotment of plot to the High Commission of Maldives

 Besides, both the countries agreed

• To handover land on reciprocal basis in Male and New Delhi for construction of the new Chancery buildings for the respective High Commissions in each other’s country

• To establish the Joint consultative Commission as per the Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development signed between India and Maldives in 2011

India reiterated financial support to Maldives for developmental projects like setting up of the Maldives Police Academy, the renovation of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male and construction of the Composite Training Centre for the Maldives National Defence Force.

India also extended a standby credit facility of 25 million dollars to the Maldives for imports from India and agreed to meet the requirement of petroleum products in the Maldives.

India has agreed to allow visa-free entry for the people from Maldives for medical purposes and removal of the restriction on re-entry within two months.

Both the sides also agreed to resolve the GMR’s contract to run Male International Airport.

India and the Maldives are looking forward to boost security and maritime cooperation, people-to-people contacts and air connectivity.

If you have any Question/Point on the above information, please ask/discuss it in the Current Affairs Group