Maldives working on establishing embassy in Türkiye

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says the Maldivian administration is actively working on establishing an embassy in Türkiye.

President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed are currently on an official visit to Türkiye.

He made the remark while speaking at a special meeting with the Maldivian community residing in Türkiye, which took place at the Nation’s Library in Ankara on Monday evening.

At the meeting, President Muizzu said his administration is committed to implementing measures to improve the lives of Maldivians residing in Türkiye.

He inquired about the needs of the community and the challenges they encounter.

Participants shared their daily struggles at the meeting and emphasized the need for government facilitation. They specifically highlighted the absence of a Maldivian embassy in Türkiye and the constraints on cash withdrawals abroad imposed by the Bank of Maldives.

Furthermore, attendees disclosed the grief experienced by trainees due to the difficulties involved in travelling back to the Maldives during the holidays.

They also implored the possibility of seeking more scholarships and training opportunities for Maldivians.

Speaking at the meeting, President Muizzu said that the government is actively working on establishing an embassy in Türkiye.

He also assured that the administration is in talks with the Bank of Maldives (BML) to address the concerns of cash withdrawal limitations.

Further, the president disclosed that, following deliberations with Türkiye officials on Monday, a decision was reached to allocate 30 scholarship opportunities to the Maldives for next year, with applications expected to open in January.

Emphasizing the administration's commitment to ensuring ease for Maldivian students studying abroad, President Muizzu assured that concerns would be proactively addressed through consultations with relevant ministries.

He added that the government will extend its full support to local students pursuing their education overseas, thereby reinforcing its commitment to the academic success of its students.

Concluding the meeting, President Muizzu acknowledged Türkiye's ongoing contributions to the economic development of the Maldives.

He expressed steadfast confidence in nurturing and enhancing the bilateral relations with Türkiye in the future.