The Maldives and Pakistan have decided to raise bilateral trade from the current US$13 million to US$200 million within the next two years, President Dr. Muizzu has announced.
The President made the announcement at a press conference with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, held at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
During the visit, the two countries signed 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering a range of sectors. President Dr. Muizzu said the agreements would take relations between the two countries to new heights and bring benefits and progress to both sides.
The key areas covered by the agreements include:
- Transport and trade: resuming direct flights between the Maldives and Pakistan, and arrangements to import agricultural products into the Maldives through the State Trading Organization (STO).
- Health and education: building a medical school in the Maldives, and cooperation in health, higher education and research.
- Defence and security: strengthening cyber security, working against drug smuggling, and ensuring defence and maritime security.
- Other areas: fisheries and agriculture, and stronger ties in tourism, climate change, finance and technology, parliamentary relations and the media.
The agreements were signed at a special ceremony at the Prime Minister’s official residence, following this morning’s official welcome ceremony and official talks between the two countries.
This is the first official visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan since 2015. President Dr. Muizzu is the third Maldivian president to visit Pakistan, after President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and President Abdulla Yameen.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Observers expect it to further strengthen the friendship between the Maldives and Pakistan.
The programme of the visit also includes a meeting with Maldivians living in Pakistan and a business forum.
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