India today gifted 72 heavy vehicles to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) with the aim of enhancing its capacity. During a ceremony at the President’s Office today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu with a symbolic key representing the handover of vehicles.
India described the gifted vehicles as a symbol of the close ties between both nations and renewed cooperation between both nations under PM Modi and President Muizzu’s leadership. According to India, the gifted vehicles will pave the way to increase MNDF’s capacity. The vehicles were gifted under an agreement executed between the defense ministries of both nations. The agreement was signed by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during Maldivian Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon’s official visit to India earlier this year.
The gifted vehicles include:- 8 27-seater buses; 10 pickup trucks; 10 mini-vans; 10 vans; 5 lorries; 8 tractors; 4 tipper dump trucks; 4 backhoe loaders; 2 cranes; 6 mini excavators; 5 excavators. Prior to this, President Muizzu had revealed his administration’s intent to increase MNDF’s capacity including procuring additional vehicles as necessary.
Notably, Maldives and India today executed eight accords, including an agreement on a new USD 565 million line of credit for infrastructure development projects as part of PM Modi’s visit to the Maldives. On Saturday, PM Modi is set to take part in Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebration as the guest of honor.
