India, Malta sign MoUs on maritime, tourism cooperation

Floriana [Malta], Sept 17 (ANI): India and Malta on Monday signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) relating to tourism, maritime cooperation and exchanges between the Foreign Service Institute of India and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, University of Malta. In addition, India has offered Malta to take advantage of its highly skilled professionals in the field of Information and Technology (IT), financial services, health, pharmaceutical, transport, freight and tourism.
Speaking at the release of joint statement after his talks with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on Monday, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said that these MoUs are a good move in creating modern framework for enhancing relations between the two countries.
"India today is the main source of affordable generic drugs in the world. We can also cooperate in wellness and Ayurveda sectors. Malta would like to take advantage of India's advancement in economical healthcare facilities. Both our economies are complimentary and technology based. We need to bolster our relationship with far more substantive cooperation on the economic, scientific and technological, human resource development fronts. You can take the advantage of highly skilled professionals in the field of IT, financial services, health, pharma, transport, freight and tourism," Vice President Naidu said.
While stressing that easier facilitation of visa promotes people-to-people contact and business, Vice President Naidu said that the two governments should work towards facilitating easy mobility of professionals from both sides.
"Terrorism is one of the foremost threats to international peace and security. We resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism at various international fora. It is a global challenge and requires a global response," Vice President Naidu said.
He thanked Malta for the assistance provided in the evacuation of Indians from Libya and added that both the nations have close cooperation in support for each other's candidates at various global multilateral fora.
At the joint statement, Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca too stressed that the relationship between the two countries goes beyond bilateral level. "It is felt in the multilateral fora, such as our work within the Commonwealth of Nations, and also, the development of stronger EU-India relations," said President Preca.
She further said that various sectors of mutual interest including trade, training and education, maritime cooperation, trans-shipment and logistics, ICT, tourism, the film industry, blockchain technologies, amongst others were discussed in the delegation level talks between the two leaders.
She further asserted that the two countries have a sense of shared commitment to explore the opportunities from which private sectors of the two countries can benefit.
"I am confident that this evening's Business Forum will further enhance tangible ways of bringing our peoples together, through trade and business," she said.
Preca also emphasising on building and developing sustainable friendships between the people of the two countries, termed India and Malta as "unique collaborators." (ANI)