Why Maldives President Muizzu is headed to Bengaluru next week

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's five-day visit to India aims to strengthen ties, with engagements scheduled in Bengaluru, as well as New Delhi and Mumbai.

Published on: Oct 4, 2024, 18:45:58 IST

By Yamini C S

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Karnataka capital Bengaluru is set to play a pivotal role as Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu embarks on a five-day trip to India, aimed at revitalizing relations between the two countries after hitting a sour patch since November last year.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in August. (Photo from X) (HT_PRINT)

Though Muizzu attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in in June, this marks his first official bilateral visit to India, news agency PTI reported. The relationship has faced challenges since Muizzu took office, especially given his pro-China stance and calls for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel shortly after his inauguration.

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As part of his visit, Muizzu will not only engage with leaders in New Delhi but will also make a significant stop in Bengaluru, where he is set to attend key business events. His schedule in the tech hub is not yet clear, however this part of the visit underscores the city’s importance as a centre for international business and investment.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has highlighted that Muizzu’s trip is expected to enhance cooperation and deepen people-to-people ties between the two nations. During his stay, he will hold discussions with Prime Minister Modi on various bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, alongside a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, the news agency said.

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Bengaluru, with its vibrant start-up ecosystem and strong commercial landscape, is well-positioned to foster economic ties with the Maldives. “The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and holds a special place in the prime minister's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India's ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’,” the MEA said in a statement.

Recent diplomatic interactions, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to the Maldives in August, have paved the way for this significant trip. The MEA noted that Muizzu's visit, including the events in Bengaluru, reflects the importance India places on its relationship with the Maldives.

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As Bengaluru welcomes the Maldivian president, the city is set to be a focal point for discussions that could shape future collaborations in trade and investment between the two nations.

(With inputs from PTI)

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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