Malé: To strengthen the partnership between India and the Maldives, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Maldives’ Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer, renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the capacity building of 1,000 Maldivian civil servants for the period 2024-2029. The renewal took place on August 9, 2024, in Malé, Maldives.
The renewed MoU is a continuation of a successful collaboration that began in 2019, when the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), under the guidance of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, signed an agreement with the Maldives Civil Service Commission to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants. This milestone was achieved by 2024, with NCGG conducting 32 capacity-building programs that included training for Permanent Secretaries, Secretary Generals, and high-level delegates from the Maldives, covering key areas such as field administration, anti-corruption practices, and information management.
Recognizing the positive impact of the initial collaboration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives requested the renewal of the MoU, aiming to further enhance the capabilities of Maldivian civil servants in public policy, governance, and field administration. The renewed agreement commits to training another 1,000 civil servants by 2029, continuing the shared efforts to promote good governance and effective public service in the Maldives.
Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “The renewal of this MoU reflects the strong commitment of both nations to continue working together in building the capacity of civil servants, thereby contributing to the overall development and governance of the Maldives.”
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) has played a pivotal role in fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration on public policy and governance, not just with the Maldives but also with other countries such as Bangladesh, Tanzania, Gambia, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. The NCGG’s programs are designed to promote citizen-centric governance, improve service delivery, and introduce innovations in governance. These programs also highlight India’s best practices in digital empowerment of citizens and the digital transformation of institutions.