Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has highlighted the possibility of establishing a visa waiver agreement between the Maldives and Serbia.
During his meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić as part of his official visit to Serbia, Minister Shahid noted that such an agreement would increase people-to-people ties, promote tourism, and add to the bilateral portfolio between the Maldives and Serbia. Minister Dačić said the request will be taken into consideration by the Government of Serbia.
During the meeting, the Maldives and Serbia had constructive discussions on enhancing the existing bilateral relations in a multitude of areas, such as education cooporation, youth development, health, and tourism. In this regard, Serbia informed that they are ready to receive 20 to 25 young sportspersons between the ages of 12 to 18 from the Maldives to train them in volleyball, football and handball. The initiative is expected to be realised by mid 2023. Additionally, the government of Serbia is also willing to increase the scholarships they offer to Maldivian students.
The meeting was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Political Consultation. The MoU aims to deepen political engagement between both countries by having periodic consultations to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid also met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia Vladimir Orlić. They discussed the important role of parliaments to strengthen and promote democracy and enhance cooperation between the Maldives and Serbia.