India has facilitated the transport of medicines procured by the State Trading Organisation (STO) from various cities of India.
The shipments transported today include 6.2 tonnes of medicines, including essential medicines being used in hospitals as well as medicines used in the treatment of COVID-19. The transportation of the medicines from India to Maldives was facilitated by the Indian Armed Forces.
A special ceremony was held to hand over the shipments to Maldives. During the ceremony, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal presented a plaque to the High Commissioner of India to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir in appreciation of the assistance received by the Indian government and armed forces in procuring the medicines to Maldives. The ceremony was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Shahid extended the appreciation of Maldives to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Minister of External Affairs of India S. Jaishankar, the government and people of India for its timely assistance in transporting these medicines, at a time when movements are restricted within and out of India due to COVID-19.
In addition to facilitating the procurement of 6.2 tonnes of medicine to Maldives. India has also provided 5.5 tonnes of essential medicine as grant aid to Maldives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.