NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the launching of a new consulate at the Maldivian town of Addu, in expression of their importance India attaches to its own ties with all the strategically located island country. The authorities said the introduction of the consulate can help fortify India’s diplomatic presence in the Maldives and allow it to be contrasts with the”present and aspired level” of involvement. India’s decision to expand its diplomatic presence in the Maldives comes amid China’s consistent attempts to boost its impact in the island country. “The Union Cabinet, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has declared the introduction of a new consulate general of India at Addu City, Maldives at 2021,” an official announcement said. Maldives is among India’s primary marine neighbour from the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a fundamental and distinctive location at the prime minister’s fantasy of SAGAR –‘Development and Security for everyone in the Area’. At present, India is growing projects worth USD 2 billion covering a great number of places including ports, bridges, roads and sanitation and water systems in addition to socio-economic growth It stated the energy and momentum from the bilateral connection reached”unprecedented amounts” under the direction of Prime Minister Modi along with President Ibrahim Solih. The authorities explained the choice to start the new consulate as a”two-step measure” in pursuit of India’s federal verge of development and growth to all. “That is also a forward-looking measure in pursuit of the domestic priority of development and growth ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’,” it stated. The authorities stated augmenting India’s diplomatic existence is in that nation, inter-alia, offer market access for Indian businesses and fortify Indian exports of products and services”This could have an immediate effect in augmenting national production and employment consistent with our objective of a self-reliant India or’Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” it added. PTI MPB AAR AAR 05251653 NNNN