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Maldives signs the “Samoa Agreement”

The Maldives has signed the “Partnership Agreement between the European Union (EU) and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), of the other part”, also known as the “Samoa Agreement” at a signing ceremony in the OACPS headquarters in Brussels today. The Agreement was signed by Geela Ali, Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Kingdom of Belgium, on behalf of the Maldives. The Maldives also submitted declarations and reservations to specific articles of the Agreement at the time of signature.
 
The Agreement will serve as an overarching framework for the relationship between the European Union and OACPS for the next twenty years. It will strengthen the capacity of OACPS member countries to address global challenges and will focus on the priority areas of democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security and migration and mobility as key priority areas.
 
The Agreement also marks the first partnership agreement that the Maldives has signed with the European Union and will enable further enhancement of cooperation in a multitude of areas including, economic development, trade, environment and climate change. It will also enable OACPS Member States to realise several benefits from the EU.
 
The Samoa Agreement brings together 79 member states of the OACPS and 27 member states of European Union to represent close to 2 billion people with diverse socio-economic backgrounds representing more than half of the Member States of the United Nations.
 
The OACPS, comprising of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, was established in 1975 under the “Georgetown Agreement”. The Maldives became a full member of the OACPS on 9 December 2022 and has been working together with members of the OACPS and the European Union to address global challenges.

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The Cabinet recommends signing the Samoa Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, upon recommendation from the Cabinet, has decided to submit the text of the Samoa Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to the Parliament for approval.

The decision was made following discussions on a paper submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

The Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It focuses on six key priority areas to tackle the main challenges over the next two decades. These priorities include human rights, democracy, and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and migration and mobility.

By signing the agreement and becoming a full member of the OACPS, the Maldives would be able to access the opportunities provided by the European Union across different sectors more easily. These opportunities would also lead to better prices for Maldivian fisheries products when exported internationally.

Ambassador of Maldives to Belgium, Geela Ali presents her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium

The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Maldives to the Kingdom of Belgium, Her Excellency Geela Ali, presented her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium. The ceremony took place earlier today at Château de Laeken in Brussels.

During the private audience that followed the Credential Ceremony, King Philippe welcomed Ambassador Geela and congratulated her on assumption of her duties as the Ambassador of Maldives to Belgium. Ambassador Geela expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome extended to her and conveyed greetings and best wishes from President Dr. Muizzu and the people of Maldives to His Majesty the King and the people of Belgium.

Ambassador Geela assured King Philippe of the commitment of the Government of Maldives to enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries and to work together to foster closer collaboration in areas of common interest such as climate change, sustainable development and tourism.

Ambassador Geela is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in both the Health and Foreign Service sector of the Maldives. She began her career in Foreign Service in 2015, serving as the Minister, and Charge de Affairs at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the UN offices in Geneva, Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Maldives in London (2016-2018) and Additional Secretary and Head of the Consular Services Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018.

Ambassador Geela was accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Shaffau Ibrahim, First Secretary and Mr. Hassan Nawaaf, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Maldives in Brussels

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