Maldives FM thanks Indian government, EAM for allowing export of essential commodities
Written By Nishtha Badgamia
Published: Apr 05, 2024, 23:13 IST | Updated: Apr 05, 2024, 23:13 IST
India-Maldives row
Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, on Saturday (Apr 6) thanked his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and the government of India for renewing the quota to allow the export of certain quantities of essential commodities for his nation. This comes amid a diplomatic row between the two countries since November.
“I sincerely thank EAM (Dr S Jaishankar) and the Government of #India for the renewal of the quota to enable #Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025,” said Zameer.
He added, “This is truly a gesture which signifies the longstanding friendship, and the strong commitment to further expand bilateral trade and commerce between our two countries.”
I sincerely thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of #India for the renewal of the quota to enable #Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025.
This is truly a gesture which signifies the longstanding friendship, and the strong…
The post comes a day after the Indian High Commission took to X and said that New Delhi allowed the export of certain quantities of essential commodities for the year 2024-25 at the 'request' of the Maldivian government and that it was being done under a unique bilateral mechanism.
The bilateral trade between India and Maldives crossed the $500 million mark in 2022. In its post, the Indian High Commission, on Thursday (Apr 4) also said that the quotas for each of these items have been revised upwards.
There has been a five per cent increase in the quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour and dal (pulses).
Additionally, the quota for river sand and stone aggregates which are essential for construction in the Maldives has been increased by 25 per cent to 1,000,000 metric tonnes, each.
Since Maldives is an island nation and does not have enough sand to support its construction, river sand and stone aggregates are considered essential.
In response to the Maldivian FM’s post on X, the EAM said, “You are welcome, FM Moosa Zameer”. He added, “India stands firmly committed to its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policies.”
You are welcome, FM @MoosaZameer.
India stands firmly committed to its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies. https://t.co/mKYOYu2aM9
SAGAR is India’s policy on maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, while New Delhi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy underlines the country’s foreign policies in nations that are in its immediate neighbourhood, including Maldives.
The ties between India and Maldives in the past few months have become strained.
Last year, in November, pro-China Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, hours after being sworn in, demanded that Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms be repatriated from his country by May 10.
The relations between New Delhi and Male further deteriorated after some officials from Muizzu’s government made crass comments after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted photos and videos of the Lakshadweep Islands.
(With inputs from agencies)