Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has departed on an official visit to Mahe', Seychelles, as the Special Envoy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The foreign minister will seek support for the Maldives' bid to host the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) 2023. He is accompanied by the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Development Ahmed Mahloof.
During his visit, Minister Shahid will call on President of Seychelles Danny Faure and deliver a letter from President Solih. The foreign minister will also hold meetings with his counterparts at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles, along with other high level Seychelles government officials.
Speaking at Velana International Airport (VIA) before departing to Seychelles, Minister Shahid said hosting IOIG 2023 in Maldives is an opportunity to develop sports facilities and infrastructure, which will benefit youth for generations to come.
Highlighting IOIG is the first international tournament Maldives took part, the minister noted the country received the first gold medal at the games. He said Maldives have participated at the games since its inauguration, adding IOIG is a special tournament to the country.
Meanwhile, Minister Mahloof said the administration is confident to win the bid to host the games for the first time in Maldives, adding no other country have prepared and campaigned as much as Maldives to win a bid to host IOIG.
With Maldives submitting a bid to host IOIG 2023, a delegation from International Council of Indian Ocean Island Games visited the country recently to monitor the facilities currently established. So far, Madagascar and Comoros have also bid to host IOIG 2023.