Tag: Maldives

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5th Colombo Security Conclave cites shared security challenges

Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives

During the conclave, India’s NSA Ajit Doval called for strengthening cooperation amongst maritime neighbours to address shared security challenges, and as first responders….reports Asian Lite News

The fifth National Security Adviser-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was held here on Wednesday in which the NSAs discussed the significance of close cooperation between member and observer countries in maritime safety and security and countering terrorism and radicalisation, sources said.

As maritime nations as well as close maritime neighbours, NSAs agreed that they play the role of the first responders for the region.

India’s NSA Ajit Doval, in his statement, called for strengthening cooperation amongst maritime neighbours to address shared security challenges, and as first responders.

The Colombo Security Conclave comprises India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. At the meeting, Mauritius was included as the fourth member. Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as Observers.

The sources said India proposed a meeting of the Heads of respective Coast Guards this year.

Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives

They said NSAs also discussed countering narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime and cyber security and emerging technologies.

This was the fifth meeting of the conclave. It was earlier called the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation. At the fourth NSA-level meeting of the Trilateral Meeting held in Colombo on November 28, 2020, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed to expand the scope and membership of the group and rename it as the Colombo Security Conclave.

A permanent Secretariat was established in Colombo which coordinates all activities of the conclave and is also responsible for the implementation of the decisions take at the NSA level.

The next meeting of the Conclave is scheduled to be held in India at the Deputy NSA Level. The next NSA level Dialogue will also be held in India.

Sources said there is a possibility of an Oceanographers Conference and a road map is being finalised for activities of the Conclave. (ANI)

Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives
Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives
Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives
Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives
Pic credits Twitter @HCIMaldives

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India, Maldives agree to boost ties in disaster management

According to the High Commission, India had provided large‐scale assistance to Maldives in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and during the 2014 Male water crisis…reports Asian Lite News

India and Maldives have decided to take forward their mutual cooperation in disaster management and response.

A tweet by the Indian High Commission in Maldives on Sunday said discussions were held to take forward partnership between India and Maldives in a priority area for enhancing capabilities in disaster management and response.

“Happy to take discussions forward in a priority area for the India-Maldives partnership for enhancing capabilities in disaster management & response,” said the Indian High Commission in a tweet.

The Indian High Commission’s tweet came in reply to a tweet by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Maldives.

The NDMA tweet said that Chief Executive of NDMA, Hisan Hassan and Deputy Chief Executive, Umar Fikry met with the Indian High Commissioner, Munu Mahawar and discussed the venues of cooperation between India and Maldives on further enhancing disaster management and response capacity in the Maldives.

“Chief Executive of NDMA and Deputy Chief Executive @umarey met with the Indian High Commissioner HE @Ambmunu and discussed the venues of cooperation between India and Maldives on further enhancing disaster management and response capacity in the Maldives,” said the Indian High Commission.

According to the High Commission, India had provided large‐scale assistance to Maldives in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and during the 2014 Male water crisis.

India has previously provided pollution dispersant to MNDF Coast Guard in 2016 and Indian Coast Guard would now be providing oil spill control equipment.

India has also offered customized training for Maldives National Defence Force Fire and Rescue Service in India.

Earlier this month, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed bilateral cooperation with his Maldivian counterpart, Abdulla Shahid. The call was made by the External minister to greet foreign minister of Maldives on new year, and both talked on mutual benefits and bilateral issues, informed the office of the External Minister.

Later Jaishankar tweeted, “Recognized the great progress in bilateral cooperation in my talk with FM @abdulla_shahid. Its mutual benefits are very visible. Conveyed my New Year’s greetings to the people and Government of Maldives”.

This conversation between the two is important as Abdulla Shahid was recently elected the President of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where India holds few key positions. A member of Parliament from 1995 to 2018, Abdulla also has served as the Speaker of Maldives’s Parliament.

Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India, it is barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s west coast, and its situation at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through Indian Ocean, and its potential to allow a third nation’s naval presence in the area imbues it with significant strategic importance to India.



India has a pre-eminent position in the Maldives, with relations extending to virtually most areas. Except for a brief period during former President Waheed’s administration and to some extent during former President Yameen’s regime, when there was a change in approach towards India, all Maldivian Presidents have recognized the importance of India’s strategic role in Maldives and worked towards strengthening bilateral relationship with India, with India being seen as a net security provider.

‘India First’ has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives, states the ministry of external affairs on India- Maldives bilateral relations.

India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.

India established its mission at the level of CDA in 1972 and resident High Commissioner in 1980. Maldives opened a full fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November 2004, at that time one of its only four diplomatic missions worldwide. (India News Network/IANS)

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Travel Travel & Tourism

1.3 million tourists arrive Maldives in 2021

The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort

The plan will reportedly focus on continuing recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News

Tourist arrivals in the Maldives increased 138 per cent in 2021 compared with 2020, with Indians accounting for the majority of the holidaymakers, state media citing data from the Ministry of Tourism reported.

State-owned PSM News said that the Maldives recorded 1.3 million tourist arrivals in 2021 compared to 55,494 in 2020, reports xinhua news agency.

The date from the Tourism Ministry showed that India was the largest source of tourists to Maldives in 2021, accounting for 22.1 per cent of all arrivals.

Russia and Britain accounted for 16.8 per cent and 7.2 per cent of arrivals, respectively.

Meanwhile, Senior Executive Director of the Ministry of Tourism Ali Razzan was quoted by PSM News as saying that the fifth Tourism Master Plan for the country will be drafted in three months.

The plan will reportedly focus on continuing recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism accounts for over 28 per cent of the Maldives’ gross domestic product.

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Maldives slams attempts to spread false information against India

According to the statement, the strong bilateral relationship between the Maldives and India is based on shared historical and cultural ties, matched by dynamic people to people contact….reports Asian Lite News

The Maldivian government has strongly rejected attempts to spread false information through media and across social media platforms using the so-called ‘India Out’ slogan, alleging that bilateral cooperation between the Governments of Maldives and India undermines the national security and sovereignty of Maldives.

A strongly-worded statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives on Wednesday said that India has always been Maldives’ closest ally and trusted neighbour, extending constant and consistent support to the people of Maldives on all fronts.

“The Government reaffirms that the country’s long-standing ties with all its international partners are based on principles of mutual respect and understanding, and in accordance with respective national and international law,” it pointed out.

“Such interactions in the international sphere does not, and will not undermine the Maldives’ independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the statement said.

“In fact, they are designed to enhance the Maldives’ national interests, and deliver for the people of the Maldives. As such, the Government believes that false allegations regarding ties with one of the country’s key bilateral partners, are misguided and unsubstantiated,” the statement clarified.

It mentioned that the “Government firmly believes that these views are not the sentiments of the general public, but rather that of a small group of individuals with the objective of tarnishing the country’s long-standing cordial ties with India.”

According to the statement, the strong bilateral relationship between the Maldives and India is based on shared historical and cultural ties, matched by dynamic people to people contact.

“The cooperation and support provided by the Government of India, specifically on issues of maritime security, is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and to ensure the safety and stability of the Indian Ocean region. Support provided by India, on areas such as search and rescue capabilities, casualty evacuation, coastal surveillance, and maritime reconnaissance, directly benefit the Maldivian people,” it noted.

The Government of Maldives has also established partnerships with other countries in similar areas of cooperation, to enhance technical and strategic capacities, the statement clarified.

“Addressing the ever-growing threats of trans-boarder terrorism, piracy, narco-trafficking as well as non-traditional security threats such as climate change, cyber security and human trafficking, requires the support and cooperation of all regional and international partners. No one country alone can address these issues on its own. The Government of Maldives urges all parties to act responsibly, and refrain from spreading false information that undermines the country’s relations with its neighbours, and the international community. The Government urges media outlets to fully commit to professional standards of journalism in reporting such information. The Government of Maldives would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate the gratitude of the Government and the people of the Maldives for the countless assistance provided by India over the years, particularly, on instances such as the 1988 mercenary attack on the country, the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the 2015 Male’ water crisis and during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” it stated.

India will always remain a true and a trusted friend of the people of the Maldives, the statement claimed further.

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Sunjay Sudhir appointed India’s ambassador to UAE

Sunjay Sudhir

Indian Ambassador to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the UAE, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press statement on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, said the MEA.

Sudhir is replacing Pavan Kapoor, who has been heading the Indian mission in UAE since August 2019. Kapoor has been appointed as Indian Ambassador to Russian Federation.

Sunjay Sudhir

The 1993-cadre Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer served as the Ambassador of India to the Maldives before which he was the joint secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Sudhir was also the consul general of India in Sydney and served as joint secretary and head of the office of the External Affairs Minister. From 2002 to 2004, he served in the MEA as the deputy chief of protocol.

Meanwhile, Kapoor’s appointment as envoy to Russia is considered a high-profile posting due to the strategic nature of relationship between the both countries.

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He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Kapoor succeeds diplomat D Bala Venkatesh Varma.

Meanwhile, in another diplomatic reshuffle, Dinesh K Patnaik, a 1990-batch IFS officer who is presently Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, was appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Spain.

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Maldives records highest tourist arrivals in Oct

The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort

According to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the country will this year cross the mark of a million tourist arrivals by the end of October…reports Asian Lite News.

Over 100,000 tourists have visited the Maldives in the month of October, the state-owned PSM News citing data from the Ministry of Tourism said on Tuesday.

Ministry data showed that 102,434 tourists visited the Maldives from October 1 to 24, a 599 per cent increase from the same period in 2020 but a 2 per cent decrease compared to 2019, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Maldives has recorded a total of 973,269 tourist arrivals so far this year, or a daily average of 4,454.

According to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the country will this year cross the mark of a million tourist arrivals by the end of October.

India and Russia were the biggest sources of tourist arrivals for the Maldives, accounting for 23 per cent and 19 per cent of all arrivals, respectively.

They were followed by visitors from France, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine, the UK and the US.

The country’s borders had been fully closed for three months last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic before they were reopened in July 2020.

The borders were closed for South Asian tourists due to a surge of Covid-19 cases in May 2021, but were reopened on July 15.

Tourism is the largest economic industry in the Maldives, as it plays an important role in earning foreign exchange revenues and employing thousands of citizens.

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Emirates, Maldives ink tourism deal at Dubai Expo

Emirates, Maldives ink tourism deal at Dubai Expo

Emirates has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the Maldives by extending a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tourism earlier this week…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, met Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives, at the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The MoU was signed by Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates, and Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism of the Maldives, and Thoyyib Mohamed, CEO and Managing Director, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation.

EXPO 2020

Khoory said, “Maldives is a very integral market in Emirates’ network and we are very pleased to be renewing our commitment to the island-nation today. Emirates has proudly served the country for more than 34 years and we look forward to continue strengthening our long-standing partnership, and to boosting the country’s trade and tourism industry.”

For his part, Dr. Mausoom said, “With over 1,000 flights and visits from 170,000 passenger arrivals to the Maldives this year, Emirates Airline continues to be a very important partner in Maldives Tourism success story. Ministry of Tourism is confident that this tri-party MoU between Emirates Airline, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation MMPRC and the Ministry, will connect the Maldives better with UAE and the world, support tourism development and promote tourism.”

Thoyyib Mohamed, CEO and Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, said: “Our relationship with Emirates Airline is one that spans over three decades. A great deal of the success of the Maldives tourism industry can be attributed to the long-lasting and fruitful relations we have with airlines – and Emirates is no exception.”

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The agreement reaffirms the airline’s commitment to the island-nation and outlines key initiatives to continue supporting the country’s tourism recovery. Since January 2021, the airline has operated the highest number of passenger flights to the Maldives, connecting 170,000 passengers to the country, from more than 100 destinations including the top markets, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Germany, United States of America, and Czech Republic.

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India, Maldives sign MoU on strengthening audit of public finance

Pic credits @HCIMaldives

The agreement, signed in Male by visiting CAG Girish Chandra Murmu and Auditor General Hussain Niyazy, aims at exchanging information in the field of public sector audit between India and Maldives….reports Asian Lite News

With an aim to develop and strengthen professional capacity and improve methodologies in the field of audit of public finance, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Auditor General of Maldives signed an MoU on Sunday, an official said.

The agreement, signed in Male by visiting CAG Girish Chandra Murmu and Auditor General Hussain Niyazy, aims at exchanging information in the field of public sector audit between India and Maldives.

The top auditors of the two counties have also agreed to conduct training programmes in their respective countries for their staff on a need basis and explore other means of capacity development support and cooperate on areas that are mutually beneficial.

Pic credits @HCIMaldives

On the occasion, Murmu said that India, being a signatory to the Environmental Accounting efforts of the UN, has committed to monitor 25 environment related targets with particular attention being paid to target no 15.9 related with Environmental – Economic Accounting which envisages to integrate the ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

“The MoU signed between the two SAIs will bring greater flexibility and dynamism in knowledge transfer and cooperation between our SAIs. Smart auditing practices, faster and efficient data analysis, as well as capacity building by skilling our teams in latest best practices will go a long way in creating a firm foundation for the growth goals of both economies,” he said.

At the occasion, Niyazy expressed his deep appreciation to his Indian counterpart for their continued support and generous assistance in helping his institution build and develop the necessary capacities of its staff through International Centre for Information Systems and Audit (iCISA) and International Training Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (iCED) of the CAG.

iCISA has conducted two virtual training programmes for the staff of the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) in 2021. In previous years, scores of the AGO staff have attended training programmes run by iCISA which are funded by the Indian government under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.

In addition, members of AGO staff have participated in training programmes on environmental audit conducted by iCED.

The institutional relationship between the government auditors was formally established in 2008 with the signing of an MOU, which led to strengthening of ties owing to close bilateral relations and regional cooperation and the fact both the institutions are members of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) and the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

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The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort

The resort is expected to reopen on May 1, 2022 for guests to indulge in the abundance of experience that awaits…reports Asian Lite News

Following excellent results during the summer season despite the pandemic, The Emerald Collection further establishes its focus in the Maldives and the Indian Ocean, announcing the acquisition of a second 5-star luxury property in Raa Atoll, Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa.

The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort

The resort is expected to reopen on May 1, 2022 for guests to indulge in the abundance of experience that awaits. Originally inaugurated in summer 2019, the resort will return to welcome international travelers under the aegis of The Emerald Collection. The resort will undergo a careful restyling to integrate the Italian touch, a part of the brand’s DNA, along with a series of new services.

Immersed in lush greenery and surrounded by a 100-hectare private lagoon with natural coral reef, Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa is located on an intimate 7-hectare island in Raa Atoll, just a 25-minute journey by boat from the first property of the Group in the destination; Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa and is already in the affiliation phase in The Leading Hotels of the World circuit.

Guests can unwind in any of the 80 luxurious independent villas that boast refined and contemporary style, featuring warm colors of wood and an abundance of natural stone. The resort also features a private dock that leads to 39 Water Villas with Pool and three Superior Water Villas with Pool. Adding further to the incredible offering, the resort will feature 27 Beach Villas, 10 of which are accompanied with private pools, along with 10 Family Beach Villas with Pool and one Presidential Beach Villa.

The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort

The key highlight of the property will once again be the brand’s signature Deluxe All-Inclusive offering, included in the cost of the stay, featuring countless water and land sports activities, as well as the à la carte gourmet experiences in its four restaurants of international cuisine and two bars that will serve a selection of the best international grape, hops and spirits.

The Emerald Spa is immersed in a tropical garden with eight panoramic treatment rooms featuring a futuristic design, sauna, Turkish bath, outdoor jacuzzi and relaxation area. The spa will be the ideal refuge where guests can spend moments of tranquility and indulge in rebalancing massages based on natural products by ELEMIS brand, following their day of discovering Maldivian underwater wonders.

Among the innovations that will be introduced by The Emerald Collection is the Dolphin Kids Club. Conceived as a real “kids resort within the resort”, providing a rich program of dedicated activities, the kid’s club will provide a child-friendly stay to the little guests at the property. It will also offer a Sports Center located in the island’s private marina with a Technogym-equipped fitness center overlooking the sea, along with tennis and padel courts.

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Upon announcing the expansion, Aldo Scarapicchia, Partner & Managing Director of The Emerald Collection commented, “We are excited about this new acquisition which allows us to consolidate the presence of The Emerald Collection as a luxury hospitality brand in the Indian Ocean with a focus on sustainability. Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa is significantly different from Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, both in design and in the concept, which in this case is characterized by what we call ´Barefoot Elegance´ luxury and modern in style. Starting from next Summer, we will offer our guests an incredible experience of island hopping in a Deluxe All-Inclusive offering on two islands whose landscape and facilities will be complementary, mainly with the combined accommodation packages between the sister properties.”

  • The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort
  • The Emerald Collection expands with new Maldives resort
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India, Maldives ink deal for community development projects

The funds are meant to carry out high-impact projects in Maldives through Local Councils, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

As a part of India’s neighbourhood first policy, the country on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a grant of $4.5 million for implementing community development projects in Maldives.

The MoU was signed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid, who is also president-elect of the UN General Assembly. Shahid is currently on a three-day visit to India.

“To support decentralisation efforts of Govt of President @ibusolih, an addl. grant of MVR 70 mn ($4.5 mn) has been extended to carry out high-impact projects in #Maldives through Local Councils. An MoU was signed during FM @abdulla_shahid’s ongoing visit to formalise this,” the Indian high commission in the Maldives said in a tweet.

In a tweet, EAM Jaishankar described the community projects in the Maldives as “Neighbourhood first in action”. He added that he had a “warm meeting” with Shahid and discussed the priorities of his presidency at the UN General Assembly.

The Maldives has benefited from large India-backed infrastructure projects worth $2 billion. These smaller high impact community development projects are a crucial part of India’s cooperation with the Maldives and the agreement signed by the ministers will lead to an additional outlay of MVR 70 million for projects to be implemented by local councils.

The Maldivian Foreign Minister tweeted that the high impact community development projects, funded with grant assistance from India, are “immensely impactful”. He added, “I am delighted that today, we paved the way for more projects to be funded under this scheme with the envelope being increased to MVR 155 million.”

Shahid, on his first foreign visit since his election to the UN post on July 7, also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prime minister felicitated Shahid on his vision statement for a “Presidency of Hope”, and assured him of India’s full support and cooperation during his presidency.

The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction that bilateral projects are progressing well despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and pointed to the importance of the Maldives as a “key pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and vision of SAGAR”.

The Maldives was the first country to receive made-in-India vaccines in January, and this was preceded by health and humanitarian aid in 2020, including 12 tonnes of medicines, and a soft loan of $250 million for budgetary support. (India News Network)

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