Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Maldives on Friday for a state visit, his first trip to the country since beginning his third term in office. The visit, held at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, came at a moment of dual significance, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of both Maldivian independence and the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The ceremonial welcome at Republic Square was marked by traditional performances from school students, a 21-gun salute, and a Guard of Honour. The day unfolded with a series of high-level engagements, culminating in the exchange of key bilateral agreements and the virtual inauguration of several development projects across the country.
Talks between President Muizzu and Prime Minister Modi focused on broadening cooperation in economic development, defence, trade, investments, and climate resilience. According to the statements released following the talks, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing partnerships in healthcare, tourism, sports, and digital transformation.
Among the highlights of the visit was the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the Maldives and India. Two separate credit line agreements were signed between the Maldivian government and the Export-Import Bank of India, including a USD 565 million umbrella agreement and an amendatory dollar credit line.
Agreements also covered diverse areas such as fisheries and aquaculture, environmental monitoring, digital public infrastructure, and cross-border payments. A notable addition was a Memorandum of Understanding on sharing successful digital governance tools, reflecting the Maldives’ interest in India’s scalable digital models.
The two leaders virtually inaugurated major India-funded projects, including the Addu Roads Project and the handover of 4,000 housing units, part of which had been ceremonially transferred during President Muizzu’s previous state visit to India. They also launched six High Impact Community Development Projects, ranging from gyms and youth centres to a fish processing plant.
In a symbolic display of the countries’ shared environmental goals, a tree-planting ceremony was held at Sultan Park. The gesture reflected mutual interest in sustainable development, with President Muizzu planting a sea putat tree under India’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, while Prime Minister Modi planted a mango tree as part of the Maldives’ ‘Five Million Trees Planting Programme.’
The visit also included the handover of two Aarogya Maitri Health Cubes, state-of-the-art mobile medical units designed for emergency response. These will be managed by the Maldives Emergency Medical Service and are expected to significantly improve the country’s capacity to handle medical crises.
In a further demonstration of defence cooperation, the two leaders inaugurated the new Dhoshimeyna Building, the latest addition to the Maldives National Defence Force’s infrastructure.
The day concluded with a state banquet hosted by President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed in honour of Prime Minister Modi. In attendance were senior Maldivian officials and members of the Indian delegation, including External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
As Prime Minister Modi’s visit continues, the range of agreements signed and projects unveiled so far reflect the evolving nature of Maldives–India relations, grounded in shared development, strategic cooperation, and enduring friendship.
