India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have signed an agreement wherein a new ferry service connecting the two countries will be launched.
The initiative will provide passenger cum cargo services to improve connectivity and to boost the two countries' tourism industries.
The inaugural route will be between the Maldivian capital Male and the city of Kochi in India's Kerala state, a distance of about 700 kilometres.
No scheduled launch date has yet been given. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the two leaders have directed their respective officials to expedite the activation of the service.
