Maldives and Kuwait looks to expand cooperation in the business and tourism sectors

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held discussions with Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah regarding the expansions of cooperation between the Maldives and Kuwait in two sectors.

The discussions took place during a meeting held between the two at the sidelines of the ongoing 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

During this meeting, both leaders affirmed the mutual interest to advance tourism cooperation, people-to-people contact and business-to-business interaction between the two countries in the coming years. The countries also agreed to collaborate on international platforms such as through the United Nations to ensure peace, security and increasing resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Noting that Kuwait had remained a key development partner for the Maldives over the years, President Solih thanked the Kuwaiti Government for all the assistance provided to the Maldives – particularly highlighting the assistance provided through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) which funded infrastructure development and social sectors’ development of the Maldives.

President Solih also added that it was a pleasure to welcome back Kuwaiti tourists to the Maldives following the border reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic. He also gave assurance that travel procedures would be made as smooth and efficient as possible to encourage more visitors from Kuwait.

Kuwaiti Prime Minister also congratulated Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid’s election as the President of the 76^th Session of UNGA.

He also touched on the urgency of combating climate change for the survival of small island states such as the Maldives – noting that he closely followed the President’s General Debate Statement, he expressed confidence that climate change will rank high of UNGA’s agenda during Shahid’s tenure.

Maldives and Kuwait established diplomatic ties on December 1, 1977.