Maldivian President Muizzu in talks with Karnataka CM in Bengaluru to strengthen trade ties

The Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru welcomed President of Maldives Mohammed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohammed on October 9.

Published on: Oct 9, 2024, 16:56:15 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

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The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Bengaluru, Karnataka hosted a high-profile delegation from the Maldives, led by President Mohammed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohammed, on October 9.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed in a group photograph with Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others, at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (CMofKarnataka - X)

The event marks a significant step in fostering stronger ties between Karnataka and the island nation, particularly in sectors like information technology, trade, and tourism.

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During the welcoming address, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasised the mutual interests in advancing partnerships, stating, "I am extremely pleased to host the visit of the delegation from Maldives led by the President and the First Lady at Bengaluru. I am pleased to note that the First Lady was a student in Bengaluru," an official release by the CMO stated.

The Chief Minister highlighted Karnataka's reputation as the Silicon Valley of India, asserting, "We are known as the Silicon Valley of India and have developed an ecosystem for start-ups, Artificial Intelligence, global capacity-building centres as well as an innovation hub."

He expressed a commitment to supporting the growth of the IT industry in the Maldives.

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In addition to technological partnerships, the Chief Minister expressed a desire to strengthen trade ties, stating, "At the same time, we would be happy to have trade ties with Maldives to promote the marketing of our handicrafts and handlooms to reach out to a large number of tourists visiting Maldives."

He further praised Karnataka's natural and cultural richness, referencing the poet Kuvempu's description of the state as "Sarva Janangada Shantiya Thota," meaning "a garden of peace for all communities."

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This visit comes amid ongoing efforts to enhance diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. President Muizzu, while on a state visit to India, reaffirmed the long-standing partnership, saying, "India has consistently proven to be a steadfast ally for the island nation," as per the statement.

This collaboration not only aims to enhance economic ties but also promotes educational and cultural exchanges, with Karnataka's diverse heritage positioned to attract more tourists from the Maldives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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