India, Maldives strengthen cooperation in fisheries

New Delhi

India and the Maldives have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, aiming to promote sustainable fishing, improve aquaculture, and support scientific research in both countries.

The agreement was signed by India’s Department of Fisheries and the Maldives’ Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the island nation. It is part of six MoUs exchanged to deepen bilateral ties.

Key areas covered by the MoU include value chain development, advancing mariculture, easing trade, and building capacity in fisheries. The Maldives will invest in improving its fish processing and cold storage facilities, boost aquaculture through better hatchery development, and diversify the species cultured.

Training and knowledge exchange are also part of the plan, focusing on skills such as aquatic animal health, biosecurity, aquaculture farm management, and technical fields like refrigeration and marine engineering. This aims to develop long-term expertise in the fisheries sector.

The ministry said this cooperation reflects the shared vision of India and the Maldives to create a resilient, innovative, and sustainable fisheries industry.

Along with this MoU, several other agreements were signed to strengthen the partnership. These include a Line of Credit (LoC) of ₹4,850 crore to the Maldives, debt repayment adjustments on Indian-funded LoCs, and the launch of India-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks.

Additional MoUs cover cooperation between meteorological institutes and sharing digital solutions for population-scale digital transformation.

These agreements mark a new chapter in India-Maldives relations, supporting growth and sustainability across sectors.