India, Maldives sign pacts to boost cooperation on IT, agribusiness

India and Maldives inked four pacts including in the areas of cooperation in culture, agribusiness and information technology and for easy facilitation of visas.

Welcoming the pact on facilitation of visa arrangements, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih expressed satisfaction that this will facilitate many Maldivians who send their children to school in India, to be able to accompany them, a joint statement.

It added that the pact will also facilitate easier visa arrangements for Maldivian citizens and their families to come to India for medical treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that the new agreement will address the common concerns and ensure that people-to-people contacts are enhanced.

The Maldives is one of the very few countries with which India has a visa free arrangement.

The other agreements were on cultural cooperation, establishing mutual cooperation to improve the ecosystem for agribusiness and joint declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of information & communications technology and electronics.

According to the statement, both sides agreed to work together to create institutional linkages and to establish a framework of cooperation in areas of health, mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, investment promotion and tourism.

Solih arrived here Sunday on a three-day state visit, his first foreign trip after assuming office in the island nation a month ago.

In a joint press statement, Modi said it was matter for honour and pride that Solih chose India as the country for his first foreign visit,