President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has underscored the benefits of his administration's revised foreign policy as the opposition criticizes the government's affinity to lean towards neighboring India.
In an address to the nation on the occasion of the National Day, President Solih recounted the status of the Maldives when his Administration took office.
He noted the Maldives had been sidelined from the international arena and stripped of innumerable opportunities to aid, privileges and resources due to an isolationist foreign policy.
President Solih underscored the manifold benefits available to citizens of Maldives through his Administration's revised foreign policy and through the efforts to restore amicable international relations.
He affirmed that the financial and technical assistance granted to the Maldives as foreign aid during the Covid-19 pandemic is a distinct result of sound foreign policy and outstanding international relations.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said that the government of Maldives has successfully secured USD 520 million as COVID-19 financing from different donors amid the economic uncertainty brought on by the global pandemic.
The Ministry highlighted that 11 donors have provided USD 520 million (around MVR 8 billion) in loans and grants. It showed that the Indian government had provided the biggest loan by offering financial assistance of USD 250 million by investing through the State Bank of India (Male') in the Government Domestic Treasury Bond as budget support.
