NEW DELHI: India will continue to support the Maldives in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

He said in a tweet that friendship between the two countries is and will always remain as deep as the waters of the Indian Ocean.

“Thank you, President @ibusolih! India will continue to support the Maldives in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our special friendship is, and will always remain, as deep as the waters of the Indian Ocean,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks in response to the tweet by President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who had thanked India for the assistance of USD250 million as budget support and USD500 million for the Greater Male Connectivity Project.

Thank you, President @ibusolih! India will continue to support the Maldives in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our special friendship is, and will always remain, as deep as the waters of the Indian Ocean. https://t.co/nbKL19hw7P

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 13, 2020

“A landmark moment in Maldives-India cooperation today as we receive Indian assistance of USD250 million as budget support and USD500 million for the Greater Male Connectivity Project. I thank PM @narendramodi and the Indian people for their generosity and friendship,” Solih had said in his tweet.

India on Thursday announced that it will fund the implementation of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) to revitalize the Maldivian economy through a $400 million Line of Credit (LOC) and $100 million grant linking its capital Male with Gulhifalhu Port and Thilafushi industrial zone along with a regular cargo ferry service between the two countries to boost trade and commerce, ANI reported.

The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) is a high visibility project which will be the largest ever infrastructure project to be implemented in the Maldives.

(With inputs from agencies)