The Maldives and Pakistan will hold a business forum during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit to Pakistan to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum will bring together business representatives from both countries. President’s Office Chief Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) said around 300 participants from various sectors in Pakistan are expected to attend.

President Dr Muizzu, who begins his visit tomorrow, is scheduled to hold official talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meet President Asif Ali Zardari.

Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, covering trade and investment, healthcare, education, climate change, tourism, civil aviation and defence cooperation. Pakistan’s Sama News has reported that around 12 agreements are expected to be signed.

The visit concludes on Thursday and is the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan since 2015, when then-President Abdulla Yameen visited the country.