Foreign Minster Visit

Foreign Minster Visit

Question: External Affairs Minster recently visited which of the following country dated 17-18 March?
(a) United Arab Emirates
(b) Romania
(c) Maldives
(d) Fiji Islands
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was on state visit of Male, Maldives on 17th and 18th March, 2019. She was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and other senior officials.
  • She met the Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih on March 18, 2019. She also had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Shahid, delegation level meetings with the Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure etc.
  • Maldives finance ministry has signed an agreement with India’s Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for line of credit (LOC) of 800 million US dollars to finance the new government’s infrastructure projects.
  • This loan will be used to provide water and sewerage services on several islands. The EXIM Bank loans come with a 1.75 percent interest rate and a 15-year repayment period after five years of moratorium.
  • She also inaugurated the renovated Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital built in 1995. India was requested to build a cricket stadium in Maldives.

Links:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sushma-swaraj-meets-maldivian-home-minister-imran-abdulla-discusses-bilateral-ties/article26566507.ece
http://www.ddinews.gov.in/business/maldives-sign-agreement-exim-bank-finance-new-government%E2%80%99s-infrastructure-projects
https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/31162/Visit_of_External_Affairs_Minister_to_Maldives_March_1718_2019