Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal have held discussions on expediting negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between the Maldives and India.

The discussions took place during a bilateral meeting held as part of Minister Iruthisham’s ongoing official visit to India. Both sides agreed to fast-track discussions on the proposed Free Trade Agreement while also discussing progress on the Bilateral Investment Treaty and mechanisms aimed at facilitating trade and financial settlements between the two countries.

In a message shared on social media following the meeting, Minister Iruthisham reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the Maldives and India as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. She also highlighted discussions related to digitalisation, trade cooperation and strengthening business-to-business engagement between the two countries.

The meeting further focused on enhancing economic cooperation and expanding trade and commercial ties between the Maldives and India. Both sides also underlined the importance of continued collaboration to support trade growth and investment opportunities.

The Maldives and India agreed on the Terms of Reference for negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in March. The framework outlines the areas and procedures guiding discussions before a final agreement is concluded. Such agreements generally aim to facilitate trade, reduce trade barriers and support cross-border investment and business activities between participating countries.