State Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Marianne Hagen has concluded a two-day official visit to Maldives. During the visit from March 2-4, the state secretary called on Vice President of Maldives Faisal Naseem.
Recognising the Maldivian people's commitment to democracy and the exceptional level of participation in last year's presidential election, which guided the country into a new democratic chapter, Marianne Hagen stated there are opportunities for greater multilateral and economic cooperation between the two countries. She also noted the government holds a historic opportunity to protect and consolidate democracy and human rights in Maldives.
Furthermore, during her visit to Maldives, State Secretary Hagen also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Zaha Waheed and Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and discussed opportunities to build partnerships in areas of common interest such as sustainable use of ocean resources for growth of the economies and addressing marine pollution.
The state secretary also visited Thilafushi accompanied by State Minister of Environment Ahmed Mujthaba, senior management from the Waste Management Company (WAMCO) and Norwegian Ambassador to Maldives Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther.
Highlighting the importance of protecting oceans, she noted Norway is a small country, but a big ocean state; with more than two thirds of export revenues coming from coastal and ocean-based activities. She said Norway and Maldives have common interests in managing and protecting the oceans. She also provided information on Norway's major initiatives to assist developing and other countries in combining marine litter and micro-plastics, an issue of importance to the Maldives.
In addition to dedicated programmes in many of the countries generating the most ocean plastic, Norway has taken the initiative for a new fund in the World Bank, ProBlue, which will finance combating marine pollution and developing integrated ocean management, both of which may be of interest for Maldives.
A Norwegian business delegation also accompanied Hagen and met with relevant Maldivian authorities to look into investment and development opportunities.
After concluding her visit to Maldives, Hagen and her delegation left for Sri Lanka.