MALÉ, November 10, 2026 — India has formally handed over 1,200 mango and teak saplings to the Maldives in support of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s Five Million Trees Programme, fulfilling a commitment made during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country last year.
The saplings were handed over by Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramanian to Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam during a ceremony held in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on November 8.
The donation comprises 600 mango and 600 teak saplings supplied by the Kerala Forest Department. The saplings were initially handed over to Maldives Consul General Aminath Shifana in Thiruvananthapuram in September before being transported to the Maldives.
Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, in a statement on X, described the contribution as a symbol of the longstanding friendship between the two countries as they conclude celebrations marking 60 years of diplomatic relations.
She thanked the Indian government for supporting efforts to make the Maldives greener and acknowledged the participation of Environment Minister Ali Shareef, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam and the Indian High Commissioner in the handover ceremony.
The Indian High Commission said the donation, made under Prime Minister Modi’s Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, reflected a shared commitment to environmental sustainability and a greener future.
Environment Minister Ali Shareef said the saplings were planted around Aman Udhares Tower 15 in Hulhumalé Phase 2, an area identified as needing additional greenery. He also confirmed that the government had achieved its target of planting one million trees this year.
The contribution follows a commitment made by Modi during his July 2025 state visit to the Maldives, when he and President Muizzu participated in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at Sultan Park in Malé.
During the ceremony, Modi planted a mango tree under the Maldives’ Five Million Trees Programme, while Muizzu planted a sea putat tree under India’s environmental initiative, highlighting the two countries’ shared interest in environmental conservation.
India and the Maldives have maintained cooperation on environmental and sustainable development initiatives over the past three years, including community infrastructure, water and sanitation projects, and renewable energy programmes.
Indian-supported development projects have included water supply and sewerage infrastructure across Maldivian islands, while grant assistance under the High Impact Community Development Projects programme has supported initiatives intended to improve local services and community resilience.
The Maldives launched its Five Million Trees Programme on June 5, 2024, following President Muizzu’s announcement at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in December 2023.
The programme aims to plant five million trees within five years to increase green cover, strengthen environmental protection and improve climate resilience across the archipelago.
According to figures released by the Environment Ministry in June 2026, more than 1.6 million trees had been planted under the initiative, with pledges exceeding 5.8 million trees.
The latest Indian contribution comes as the two countries continue to expand bilateral cooperation following improvements in diplomatic relations since 2024, with environmental protection, sustainable development and infrastructure among the areas of engagement. (HIH X)
