New Delhi, July 21: India and Maldives signed MoU for judicial cooperation to accelerate court digitization and boost prospects for IT companies and start-ups in both countries.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet, “In another reaffirmation of our #NeighbourhoodFirst policy, today the Cabinet approved signing of an MoU for Judicial Cooperation between India & Maldives. Will accelerate court digitization and boost prospects for IT companies & start-ups in both countries."
Earlier in June, Jaishankar interacted with the President of Maldives, Ibu Solih and underlined the broad-based cooperation between India and Maldives that continues to grow at Kigali while he was there to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
India was among the first to recognise the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. Relations between India and Maldives have been traditionally warm. However, during Abdulla Yameen’s presidency (2013-18), bilateral relations frayed, especially with Maldives’ economic and strategic relations with China growing rapidly.
The Indian Ocean is a key highway for global trade and energy flows. The Maldives is geographically positioned like a ‘toll gate’ between the western Indian Ocean chokepoints of the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz on the one hand, and the eastern Indian Ocean chokepoint of the Strait of Malacca on the other.
It is important for India’s strength in the blue economy through sustainable management and utilisation of marine resources. Maldives is important for political stability and security in Indian Ocean Neighbourhood and the protection of Indian trade, investment.
They have a clear responsibility in maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean. India to see Maldives supporting the Pacific strategy of the Quad - a strategic arrangement between India, US, Japan & Australia.
India being a net provider of security, is also our responsibility to maintain peace and security in the region. So these two are complementary approaches that India is working on.