India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives

Tags: International Relations International News

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on 18 January as part of his three-day visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka.

An overview of the news

• To strengthen bilateral ties, India and Maldives signed an MoU on development projects and held talks with top leadership in the country.

• The agreement included grant assistance of 100 million rufiyaa (Maldives' currency) for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).

• Under this funding, several socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented in Maldives.

• It also includes the development of a sports complex at Gahadhoo and academic collaboration between the Maldives National University and the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

• India has handed over two sea ambulances to help the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

About Maldives

• It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.

• It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.

• Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism

• Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.

• Capital -Male

• President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

• Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)

• Official Religion - Islam

• Currency - Rufiyaa