Maldives and the Government of the United Arab Emirates has today held the inaugural Maldives-UAE Joint Committee Meeting virtually.
Foreign Ministry said that the Joint Committee Meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid on behalf of the Maldives, and the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and the Minister of State for Food and Water Security Mariam Almheiri on behalf of the UAE.
In his remarks delivered at the Committee, Minister Shahid reaffirmed the strong ties between the two countries and expressed commitment to expand cooperation bilaterally, internationally, and through the advancement of trade, investment, and economic partnerships.
The Ministry said that Minister Shahid highlighted that the relationship between the two countries is one that is based on mutual respect and shared values, making special note of the increased engagement over recent years, especially in international and regional organizations such as the UN, where Maldives and UAE work closely together on key issues such as climate change.
It said that the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of UAE, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber also reflected on the close bilateral relationship between the Maldives and UAE since the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries on 15 March 1978.
Minister Al Jaber conveyed the keenness of the UAE to expand and explore new avenues for investment and collaboration with the Maldives, including the sharing of expertise and best practices in different sectors.
Foreign Ministry said that the Minister of State for Food and Water Security of UAE, Mariam Almheiri echoed the sentiment previously expressed by the two Ministers regarding the close ties between Maldives and UAE.
Minister Almheiri further highlighted the great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of food security and expressed anticipation for consolidating this prospect in the near future, by undertaking an Official Visit to the Maldives.
Minister Shahid further reiterated his appreciation to the UAE for hosting the inaugural meeting of the Joint Committee virtually, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to explore opportunities for cooperation on areas of mutual interest, including economic diversification, food security, investment, health, environment, defense, security, infrastructure development, transport, education, culture, youth, and hospitality.
The Joint Committee Meeting included the participation of stakeholders from the government and the private sector of both countries. Prior to the meeting today, senior officials and stakeholders of both countries convened virtually, from 8 to 9 February 2021, to facilitate in-depth discussions at a technical level in preparation for the Joint Committee Meeting.
