India and Maldives share close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links

The Union Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment of the Republic of Maldives for cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs. The MoU was signed in November, 2020.

“Bilateral exchange programmes in the field of sports and youth affairs between India and Maldives will help in expanding knowledge and expertise in the area of sports science, sports medicine, coaching techniques, participation in youth festivals and camps which would result in improvement in performance of our sportspersons in international tournaments and strengthening of bilateral relations between India and Maldives,” the Cabinet said in a statement on Tuesday.

The benefits arising from bilateral cooperation in the field of sports and youth affairs with Maldives would be equally applicable to all sports persons irrespective of their caste, creed, region, religion and gender, it said.

As close and friendly neighbors, India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy cordial and multi-dimensional relations.

In November last year, India and Maldives signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) including on the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).

Besides MoUs on GMCP and sports, the two countries also signed two other agreements to be implemented under the High Impact Community Development (HICDP) scheme.