Remarks by EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar at the Inauguration of Water & Sanitation Project in Maldives

Your Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu,
Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer,
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib,
High Commissioner,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Namaskar and good afternoon,

It is really a great pleasure today to be at the President's Office in Maldives for the virtual inauguration and handing over of the Water and Sanitation Projects in 28 islands, commissioned under the Indian Line of Credit in the august presence of the President.

The bedrock of our partnership is the mutual benefit of our peoples. This is manifested in diverse sectors of our cooperation - health, education, large infrastructure development, defence, maritime, agriculture, banking and adapting for climate resilience. It is our endeavour to expand this list as we move forward and harness our multifaceted partnership to realize the aspirations of our peoples.

Excellencies,

Our development partnership is driven by the needs and priorities of the people and the Government of Maldives and is a judicious mix of grants, loans, budgetary support, capacity building and training assistance. We are now entering a phase where many of these projects are getting realized on the ground, delivering tangible benefits to the common people.

In our efforts to expand the scope and benefits of development cooperation, we are mindful of the challenges posed by climate change, especially, for small island developing state such as the Maldives, which are even more vulnerable to the vagaries of rising sea levels. One of the immediate concerns is the availability and access of freshwater resources. It has been our objective to provide ecologically sustainable low cost solutions to our development partners so that they are not only able to access potable water but also have the capability to treat sewage, thereby, protecting the delicate ecology of these islands and atolls. This finds resonance in our own initiatives in India of 'Har Ghar Jal' and 'Swachha Bharat' i.e 'Water to Every Home' and 'Clean India'.

This project has brought safe drinking water to so many islands, to 32 islands and introduced sewerage system in 17 islands. I am happy to note that this has directly impacted the lives of 28,000 Maldivians I believe. And under this project, latest technologies have been used to provide clean drinking water and safe sewerage disposal. In addition, the buildings are also equipped with solar energy providing support to the island grids. With a total funding of a USD 110 million, this is the largest climate adaptation implemented in Maldives with international collaboration.

It is also significant to note that the completion of this project has supplemented the Government of Maldives endeavours in reaching its Sustainable Development Goals by establishing climate resilient and cost-effective water and sewerage systems. I am sure that this will go a long way in improving the lives of the women in these islands who bear the primary burden of fetching clean water.

Excellencies,
Friends,

India-Maldives development cooperation embodies the motto of our partnership - 'Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India'. It will be our endeavour to harness this defining feature of our relationship and scale greater heights. And I hope Excellency President with your guidance and encouragement, our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision will form an important milestone in the journey of our two nations together.

Thank you very much.