(MAY 5-11)

Reports noted that Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh was on a three-day official visit to the Maldives from May 8-10, 2014. During the visit, he paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Reportedly, discussions between the Indian army chief and Maldivian government included the development of a naval dockyard in Uthuru Thilafalhu (Sifavaru) lagoon along with docking facility for commercial ships, a project worth US $500 million. 1

In another development, reports noted that an agreement has been signed with Chinese company Sinohyrdo for the construction of a new apron at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA). According to the Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) Ibrahim Saleem (Bandhu) the cost of the project is $9 million. 2

• 1. “Indian army chief discusses construction of naval dockyard in Maldives”, Sun Online, May 10, 2014 at http://www.sun.mv/english/21857.
• 2. “Agreement signed with Chinese company regarding construction of new apron at INIA”, Sun Online, May 8, 2014 at http://www.sun.mv/english/21817.