Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, landed in the Maldives on Thursday to partake in the inauguration of President Mohamed Muizzu, scheduled for November 17 in Male. Senior officials from the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President-elect extended a warm welcome to the Indian minister. The Indian High Commission in the Maldives expressed pleasure in hosting Rijiju for the inauguration ceremony, emphasizing the expectation of constructive engagements over the next two days. During his two-day official visit, Rijiju will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Mohamed Muizzu. This significant representation underlines India’s commitment to strengthening substantive cooperation and fostering robust people-to-people ties with the Maldives, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the “Neighbourhood First Policy.”
India had received an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony, showcasing the depth of bilateral relations. Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate Muizzu secured victory in the presidential elections, garnering over 53% of the vote in the second round. Prime Minister Modi had earlier extended congratulations to Muizzu, emphasizing India’s commitment to fortifying the enduring bilateral relationship and enhancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
