NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Maldives has proposed starting free trade talks with India to enhance bilateral trade and investment.
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and India's Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, held talks on a range of issues in the Maldivian capital Male on Friday.
"We are committed to establishing effective mechanisms to enhance economic cooperation, fostering a vibrant and prosperous partnership that will benefit both the nations. In this regard, I conveyed President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's proposal, to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the Maldives and India," Moosa said in a statement.
"This agreement alongside other economic and trade-related agreements will facilitate trade liberalisation and ease the risks of doing business in both our countries," he said.
The Maldivian foreign minister said his country has "benefited substantially" from financial support provided by India and thanked the Indian government for the rollover of US$50 million treasury bills.
"This gesture of goodwill has gone a long way in alleviating our budgetary and fiscal challenges," Moosa said.
Jaishankar began his three-day visit to the Maldives on Friday to inaugurate India-assisted community projects and to explore areas of further cooperation.
-- BERNAMA
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