Pakistan-Maldives business forum to be held during Pres Muizzu’s visit

A special business forum designed to foster closer trade relations between Maldives and Pakistan will be held during the upcoming state visit by Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Muizzu is set to make a state visit to Pakistan from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday that the main objective of the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum is to promote greater interaction between the business communities of the two nations and explore new opportunities for trade and investment.

The ministry added that key agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across various sectors are expected to be signed during the visit.

Marking the first official visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan after an interval of more than a decade, the trip comes at the invitation of Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

This is the first official visit to Pakistan by a Maldivian head of state since former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s visit in May 2015.

President Muizzu will be accompanied on this visit by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers.

During the visit in Islamabad, President Muizzu is scheduled to hold separate meetings and official talks with Pakistani PM Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. These discussions will broadly cover the trade and economic sectors, as well as health, education, tourism, agriculture, defense, maritime security, and climate change.

Furthermore, the leaders are set to exchange views on regional and international developments, mutual cooperation at international forums such as the UN and the OIC, and the reactivation of the SAARC organization.

During the visit, preparations have been made to sign around twelve agreements and MoUs covering various areas. These include an agreement to initiate direct air travel between the Maldives and Pakistan, MoUs for cooperation in the health sector, advancing ties in higher education and research, and strengthening defense cooperation. In addition, numerous agreements are expected to be signed in the fields of finance, technology, parliamentary relations, and media.

The upcoming state visit also holds special significance as the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, serving as an important milestone to elevate bilateral ties to new heights.