Greater Male Connectivity Project milestone reflects India-Maldives friendship: Former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid
Male, August 23
Former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid on Saturday hailed a major milestone in the Greater Male Connectivity Project, saying the initiative reflects the strong ties and shared progress between India and Maldives.
"A major milestone for the Greater Male Connectivity Project today! Honored to have launched this project during my tenure as Foreign Minister," Shahid said in a post on X.
"The Maldives-India friendship is built on trust and shared progress. This link is a symbol of that commitment and of India's support for Maldives' development," he added.
Shahid also expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for their role in the project.
"Deep appreciation to PM @narendramodi, and EAM @DrSJaishankar, for their leadership in realizing this vision for the Maldivian people," he said.
Shahid's remarks came in response to a post by India in the Maldives announcing the completion of a key milestone in the project, with the final bridge segment connecting Male with Villingili officially placed, bringing seamless connectivity between the islands closer.
"A big milestone for the Greater Male Connectivity Project! The final bridge segment connecting Male with Villingili is officially set in place - bringing seamless connectivity between the islands one step closer," the post read.
The Greater Male Connectivity Project is one of India's flagship infrastructure projects in the Maldives, aimed at improving connectivity between Male, Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi islands.
The development comes amid continued focus on India-Maldives relations and regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had earlier called for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), urging member countries to resolve differences through dialogue.
Muizzu said Maldives was ready to play the role of a mediator to help break the deadlock within SAARC and called for member states to return to the negotiating table in the interest of regional peace and cooperation.
India has maintained that it supports strong regional cooperation but has also attributed the stagnation of SAARC to Pakistan. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that "everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are actually stymying SAARC", adding that cooperation requires goodwill.
SAARC comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
— ANI
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