The number of development projects, undertaken with Indian financial support, is progressing at an excellent pace and will soon deliver benefits to the Maldivian people

With pro-China opposition in the Maldives creating unrest in the country, Maldives capital Male has underlined the commitment by India and Maldives to use India’s recently announced financial support for quick delivery of intended benefits to the Maldivian people, further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

“The Maldives-India partnership continues to grow from strength to strength, based on the traditionally strong ties, and dynamic people-to-people contact, and further invigorated by the close partnership between President Solih and Prime Minister Modi,” a Times of India report quoted sources as saying.

The report further quoted a senior official as saying that both countries are committed to delivering results. He revealed that the number of development projects undertaken with Indian financial support is progressing at an excellent pace and will soon deliver benefits.

India’s total financial commitment to the Maldives since Solih took charge as president is well over the US $2 billion, said the report quoting sources.

India has recently announced the Greater Male Connectivity Project calling it the largest ever infrastructure project to be implemented in the Maldives.

The Times of India report quoted the Indian government sources as saying that Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had “personally” sought India’s assistance during his meeting with the foreign minister S Jaishankar in the Maldives in September 2019.

India is hoping that the high-visibility "landmark" project will also outshine the 1.39 km Maldives-China Friendship bridge, seen as the most significant infrastructure project in the Maldives built with foreign assistance, said the report.