PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific completes first UK official visit to Maldives in two years [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2024.
Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, visited Maldives to build closer links on maritime security, climate, and trade.
UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Maldives on 9 May for the first UK ministerial visit to the country in two years.
During the visit, Minister Trevelyan held talks with Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. Topics focused on opportunities for closer bilateral and regional cooperation including on justice reform, climate change, the security sector, trade and maritime security.
With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s priority of growing the UK’s economy.
Minister Trevelyan met Maldivian and British businesses operating in Maldives and discussed opportunities to further strengthen trade and commercial links between the UK and Maldives.
Minister Trevelyan also met with female judges in Maldives to hear about the impact of UK programmes to support the justice sector, and understand the challenges faced by female judges.
The Minister also visited the first, UK-backed marine plastics lab in Maldives where she met beneficiaries of UK programmes.
