Hon. Midhath Hilmy
Minister of Communication, Science and Technology pays an official visit to India


September 08-12, 2003: The Minister of Communication, Science and technology, Hon. Midhath Hilmy paid an official visit to India, on the invitation extended to him by H. E. Arun Shourie, Minister of Disinvestment, Communications and Information Technology. The Hon. Minister was accompanied by three senior officials from the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology and one senior official from the Ministry of Trade and Industries.

The two ministers, accompanied by their delegates, held formal discussions and covered a range of bilateral issues on cooperation in information technology. Hon. Midhath Hilmy expressed his warm and sincere appreciation for inviting him to India and for the generous hospitality extended to him and to his delegation. The Minister also commended the unprecedented progress and achievements made by the Government of India, in making India a leader in information technology.

The official talks culminated in the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Information Technology by the two ministers. Later in the day, the Maldivian delegation met with senior officials from the Ministry of Disinvestment, Communications and Information Technology, Department of Information Technology, Department of Telecommunications, Science and Technology Park of India, Department of Commerce and the Telecom Commission.

The two sides discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, including investment opportunities and ways and means of enhancing bilateral cooperation. The Indian government expressed its desire to explore investment opportunities in Maldives, including the Government Network Project, Feasibility Study on Establishing a Software Industry and an IT Village in Maldives. The Indian delegation also expressed its desire to explore the opportunities arising from the Liberalization of the GSM Mobile Telephony in Maldives. The two sides also agreed that cooperation would be more meaningful if contacts could be promoted and established between government to Government and private to private institutions.

The Minister and his delegation also met with senior representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industries, National Institute of Information Technology and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. The Honourable Minister also visited UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau and met with Prof. Mohsen Tawfik, UNESCO Representative and Director for Communication and Information.

While in Bangalore, the Maldivian delegation visited the International Technology Park, Indian Institute of Science, Infosys Technologies Limited, Biocon India Limited, Tata BP Solar, Centre for the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA) and Wipro GE Medical Systems.

The Delegation returned Male on September 13, 2003.