Pakistan, Maldives Aim to Raise Trade to $200m in 2 Years

Pakistan and the Maldives have agreed to raise bilateral trade from $13 million to $200 million over the next two years, following a meeting in Islamabad between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday, October 21.

Twenty MoUs Exchanged

The two sides exchanged 20 memorandums of understanding covering information technology, health, education, social protection, defence, maritime security, agriculture, fisheries, technical and vocational training, youth and sports, air connectivity, tourism, arts and culture, environmental protection and combating illicit trafficking.

Prime Minister Shehbaz

• He said Pakistan and the Maldives enjoy strong brotherly relations rooted in longstanding historical bonds, and that the MoUs cover all important areas of the relationship and should be turned into action quickly.

• Talks covered economic and trade ties, strategic defence cooperation and Pakistan’s support for training Maldivian nationals.

• Pakistan will back the Maldives’ plan to plant five million trees, contributing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plants.

• Pakistan is ready to share its expertise with the Maldives as it moves to set up data centres.

• He briefed the President on Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and its concerns over India placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, stressing that treaties must be respected.

President Muizzu

He said Pakistan has been a trusted friend of the Maldives for sixty years and that both sides agreed to open a new era of partnership. They agreed to expand trade, promote investment, deepen tourism cooperation, strengthen connectivity and expand the youth exchange programme and cooperation in skills, entrepreneurship and innovation. He welcomed stronger cooperation on climate change and said the Maldives remains committed to a constructive role in reviving SAARC.

Both leaders also expressed support and solidarity with the people of Palestine.