Indian PM Modi Attends Maldives’ Independence Day as Guest of Honour, Signs Major Agreements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives on Saturday, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to attend the ceremony.
The occasion also marked the first time President Mohamed Muizzu hosted a visiting Head of Government at a national celebration since assuming office.
Modi and Muizzu jointly watched the Independence Day parade at Male’s Republic Square, which featured ceremonial marches by the Maldivian National Defence Forces, cultural performances, and visual tributes to the nation’s development journey.
The Prime Minister extended warm wishes to the people and government of Maldives, calling the moment a milestone in the history of bilateral relations between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. Notably, 2025 also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Maldives.
The Independence Day ceremony capped a high-impact state visit that saw the signing and exchange of eight formal agreements and several handovers across infrastructure, digital transformation, defence, health, and maritime cooperation.
Among the headline outcomes: India has extended a fresh Line of Credit worth ₹4,850 crore to the Maldives for priority infrastructure development. An amendatory agreement was also signed to ease the debt repayment obligations of the Maldives on previously issued Indian Lines of Credit.
The visit saw the formal launch of negotiations for the India–Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the two sides adopting terms of reference for the upcoming discussions.
A boost to India-Maldives friendship!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2025
Here are highlights from the extremely productive Maldives visit. pic.twitter.com/5jKJjvJukG
Modi and Muizzu also jointly released a commemorative stamp marking 60 years of diplomatic ties, symbolizing the countries’ shared maritime and cultural history.
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| Image Source: PM NaMo |
On the ground, India handed over 3,300 completed social housing units in Hulhumale, inaugurated road and drainage infrastructure in Addu City, and launched six high-impact community development projects across the Maldives. India also provided 72 vehicles and essential equipment, as well as two BHISHM Health Cube sets to bolster public health and emergency preparedness.
A major defence milestone was the inauguration of the new Ministry of Defence building in Male, constructed with Indian assistance, which will serve as a hub for future bilateral security cooperation.
The two nations also entered multiple technical and strategic agreements:
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Cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture
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Collaboration between India’s IITM and Maldives’ Meteorological Services on climate science
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Mutual support for digital governance and large-scale tech solutions, including UPI integration
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Recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia by Maldivian health authorities
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Network agreement between NPCI International and Maldives Monetary Authority to deploy India’s UPI platform in the Maldivian retail and tourism sectors
The participation of PM Modi in the national celebrations and the breadth of outcomes reflect a significant elevation in the India–Maldives relationship. It positions the two countries as co-architects of regional stability, digital innovation, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean.