India, Maldives sign five MoUs for establishing Addu Tourism zone

India and Maldives  5 MoUs for establishing the Addu Tourism zone in five islands of Addu atoll at a cost of 2.49 million USD. The tourism zone is expected to generate local employment and enhance eco-tourism opportunities in Addu.The MOUs were signed between the High Commissioner of India Sunjay Sudhir, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Addu City Council. A 6th MoU to set up a bottled water plant in Hoarafushi was also signed . All six projects are grant projects falling under India’s High Impact Community Development Scheme (HICDP).

Why Addu Tourism Zone?

• Addu is one of the most beautiful sites of Maldives’26 coral atolls. It comprises more than two dozens of Maldives’ 1192 islands. Addu is also an important site for tourism because it represents the southernmost point of South Asia. About 10% of actual Maldives residents are living here with unique culture and dialect.
• India is expanding its tourism and infrastructure development limits through off-shore development works. Addu Tourism Zone will increase India’s capacity for infrastructure building. Addu Tourism Zone will bring national and international tourists and diplomats that will boost India’s and Maldives’ tourism sector.
• Indian citizens are second among people coming to the Maldives to visit from all over the world. According to the official figures released by Maldives Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, 82,140 Indian tourists went to visit the Maldives in the first six months of 2019.

India-Maldives relations

• India-Maldives relations refer to a long time bilateral relations between both countries. This relationship has been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation. Almost all the Prime Ministers of India have visited Maldives during their tenure.
• India and Maldives began bilateral relations soon after the independence of Maldives from British rule in 1965.
• India was one of the first countries to recognize the Maldives as an independent nation.
• India established its diplomatic mission in Male in 1972, the capital of Maldives.

PAPER-I