Maldives has taken a significant step in its development journey by signing an agreement with India to implement the second phase of High-Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP). This agreement underscores the growing collaboration between the two nations in areas critical to community welfare and national progress.

The signing took place during Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel's three-day official visit to India. In a social media post, India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar highlighted the productive discussions held with his Maldivian counterpart, focusing on areas such as development cooperation, economic growth, security, financial technology, and strengthening people-to-people ties.

As part of the visit, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to formalise the implementation of the second phase of HICDP. These projects aim to deliver high-impact benefits to local communities, improving infrastructure and services in alignment with the Maldives’ development goals.

Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to supporting the Maldives in its pursuit of growth and prosperity. He emphasised that this partnership aligns with India’s "Neighbourhood First" policy and its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, which prioritises fostering strong relationships with neighbouring countries.