The cargo ferry service will travel between Tuticorin, Kochi in India, and Kulhudhuffushi and Malé in the Maldives
The Maldives-India Cargo Ferry arrived in Kulhudhuffushi today on its maiden voyage. A ceremony was held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to welcome the vessel MCP Linz at its first port of call in the Maldives. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, Members of Parliament for Kulhudhufushi Constituency Yasir Abdul Latheef, and Jamsheed Mohamed, joined the ceremony.
The ceremony was also joined by Commissioner General of Customs, the Controller of Immigration, Managing Director of Maldives State Shipping, Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives Ports Limited, and the High Commission of India in the Maldives. The Members of Parliament from Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi, Thiladhunmathi Dhekunuburi, and Shaviyani Atoll, as well as Kulhudhuffushi Island Council joined the ceremony.
The Memorandum of Understanding on establishing cargo-cum-passenger ferry service was signed during the State Visit of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to the Maldives, in June 2019. The MoU emphasised the need to improve connectivity between the two countries through the establishment of enabling infrastructure and bilateral trade and reaffirmed that dynamic people-to-people contacts form the backbone of the bilateral relationship between two countries. The MoU further acknowledged the valuable contribution of workers, students, travellers and tourists towards the economies and communities of both the countries.
The announcement regarding the commencement of the cargo ferry service between the Maldives and India was made during the digital video conference between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr S. Jaishankar on 13 August 2020. The cargo ferry service will travel between Tuticorin, Kochi in India, and Kulhudhuffushi and Malé in the Maldives.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the establishment of this service will greatly improve the bilateral trade between the Maldives and India and will help revitalise the economy, especially in the North of the country. He expressed hope that the boost in sea connectivity would positively impact the economic trade between our two countries. The Minister further noted that a key enabler of boosting direct trade is to improve connectivity. The service boosts connectivity – which is at the heart of the bilateral relationship. It strengthens not only the political and economic relationship – but the people-to-people connections.
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