President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have returned to Maldives following the conclusion of the state visit to Seychelles.
President Solih made the visit upon the invitation of President of Seychelles Danny Faure. The visit was the first-ever state visit by a Maldivian leader to the kindred archipelagic republic and fellow member of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
The President's Office of Maldives expressed the visit proved to be a success, progressing already excellent bilateral friendship. During official talks, both leaders expounded at length on the challenges and on the areas in which cooperation can be expanded, with climate change and maritime issues being accorded special priority.
Further, during the course of the visit, the Governments of Maldives and Seychelles signed 7 memoranda of understanding to further cooperation in tourism, blue economy, foreign ministry cooperation, sports cooperation and vocational and youth training.
Progressing cooperation in sports, in particular, comes at an opportune time for the Maldives in light of the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) Governing Council's decision to allow Maldives to host the next edition of the event in 2023. Seychelles and the Maldives already have a robust history of sporting cooperation in recent years, with Seychelles presenting Maldives with a sailing boat to participate in sailing events.
In addition to the above, President Faure also announced the Seychellois Government will offer four scholarships for Maldivian students to study maritime fields at Seychelles' University from this year onwards
President Solih was happy to have concluded such a productive visit and relayed gratitude for the exceptional hospitality accorded to the first lady, his delegation and himself throughout the course of the visit, and expressed he would be jubilant at the prospect of reciprocating Seychellois hospitality in the future.