Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 117

Speaker of the Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has departed to China to participate in the Inter-Regional Seminar of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Parliaments of Developing Countries 2024. The Parliament has disclosed the seminar will take place from August 18 to 23.

The six-day workshop is jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the National People’s Congress of China.

The workshop will focus on the role of parliaments, in achieving the SDG’s of the United Nations (UN). Speaker Abdul Raheem is accompanied by Parliamentarians Ibrahim Shujau, Mohamed Ismail and Mohamed Shahid.

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Minister of Higher Education, Labour, and Skills Development Dr. Maryam Mariya has arrived in China at the invitation of Beijing Normal University.

During her visit, Minister Mariya will hold meetings with President of Beijing Normal University Professor Yu Jihong, as well as Vice President Professor Zhou Zuoyu, and the Vice Dean of the Smart Learning Institute, who is also the former President of the Commonwealth of Learning.

The higher education ministry said that Minister Mariya will serve as a panelist at the Round Table on Women’s Leadership in the Age of AI. She will also participate in the forum on the Development and Use of Digital Textbooks, organised by Beijing Normal University

As part of its ongoing efforts, the ministry has been engaging with renowned universities across various countries to explore ways to enhance the quality of higher education and training in the Maldives. The initiative is aimed at fostering a talented generation and expanding higher education opportunities for Maldivian youth.

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Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has highlighted the numerous reasons why the youth should invest in the tourism sector. He made the remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the Destination Addu Summit.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Faisal emphasised the government’s commitment to providing financial support for those interested in investing in tourism. He also encouraged the Maldivian youth to take advantage of this opportunity, stating that if they invest now, the one island, one resort concept could be fully realised within 10-15 years, leading to significant changes in the tourism landscape.

Additionally, Minister Faisal discussed efforts to expand tourism in Addu. As such, he highlighted ongoing discussions with airlines to establish direct flights to Addu from various international destinations. He underscored the rich historical heritage of Addu and stressed the importance of promoting its ancient sites within the tourism sector.

He also announced that the Addu City Council will participate in this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) Fair and shared that the government is prioritising the expansion of tourism in Addu, with plans to submit a proposal to the Economic Council on the matter. Furthermore, Minister Faisal said that the presence of a beach is not essential for the expansion of tourism on an island. He also noted that the country is moving towards a diversified tourism model, with plans to introduce various types of tourism to ensure that the benefits are equitably distributed among those living in the atolls.

The Destination Addu Summit, held at the Equator Village in Addu, aims to promote tourism in the region and address the current challenges and opportunities for its development.

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Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef has stated that Addu City has the necessary qualities to be developed as a tourist destination. He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Destination Addu Summit, in Addu Equator Village.

Taking the podium at the ceremony, Minister Adam Shareef stated that Addu has all the qualities needed to make tourism a success and noted that the city has special characteristics both naturally and historically. As such, he noted the city’s special dialect and stories that can be connected to different countries.

Minister Adam Shareef assured that the government will provide the city with all the necessary assistance and cooperation in its efforts to promote tourism. Noting that Addu is the largest city of the country, the Minister encouraged everyone to work together to develop the city.

Adding that Addu account for the largest percentage of employees working in the tourism industry in Maldives, the minister noted that the city has several businessmen who are already investing in the tourism sector. He noted that this gives the city a number of investor options.

The Destination Addu Summit: One Brand One Story organized by Addu City Council kicked off with 110 participants. The summit will hold a wide range of discussions on the obstacles and difficulties in expanding tourism in Addu City, as well as plans to further develop tourism in the city.

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Dhiraagu has signed on as the Digital Partner of the Maldives Travel Conference – Women’s Edition 2024.

This event, organised by the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), aims to raise awareness about and address the challenges faced by women in the Maldivian tourism sector while discussing ways on how to foster a more inclusive working environment. It will feature two panels comprised of key women figures in the industry.

MATATO said Dhiraagu’s contribution to ensuring the conference’s success was noted.

MATATO’s CEO Aminath Suzan said the event was testament of MATATO’s ongoing commitment to promoting women’s empowerment in the tourism sector.

Dhiraagu added that the conference was vital to the tourism industry and that the company was proud to partner to make the conference a resounding success. The Maldives Travel Conference – Women’s Edition 2024 is scheduled to take place on 19 August 2024 at JEN Maldives Male’ by Shangri-La.

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Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) announced that the company has launched a feasibility study for subsea desalination technology, in partnership with FLOCEAN, a leader in innovative water solutions. This initiative aims to explore the integration of this advanced technology into the MWSC water infrastructure, addressing the nation’s unique challenges in delivering sustainable potable water.

MWSC said this study is vital in addressing the water provision challenges faced in the country.

MWSC said they hoped the usage of subsea desalination technology will offer sustainable solutions by utilizing natural ocean pressure at depths of 500 meters to purify water. It is expected that this method reduces energy consumption approximately by 30 to 50 percent compared to traditional desalination techniques. Traditional desalination uses 3 kWh of energy per cubic meter of water produced. Additionally, this technology handles brine waste with less ecological impact, safely reintroducing it back to the sea.

The utility service provider said this technology was in line with the nation’s climate and energy goals as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This feasibility study, conducted in partnership with FLOCEAN, will assess the technical, financial, and environmental viability of subsea desalination in the Maldives. The aim is to develop a scalable model that can enhance the nation’s water security with lower energy consumption, reduced cost and less environmental impact.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in MWSC’s mission to provide innovative and sustainable water solutions for the Maldives, ensuring reliable access to clean water for all.

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Maldives Red Crescent (MRC) discloses plans to introduce an application to facilitate access to its services. The association says that the application will be launched on August 27.

Speaking on a programme of PSM News, Manager Programs and Services of MRC Ibrahim Shameel shared that the association is working to make its services more accessible. As such, he disclosed plans of an application as part of these efforts. Shameel also noted that the application will mark the 15th anniversary of the association.

MRC notes that the aim is to gain more opportunities to take part in charity activities through the application. Additionally, Shameel stated that the the application will make requesting for MRC’s services more convenient. Shameel also added that the application will allow easy access to become a member of the association.

The association currently provides first aid and patient transport services in the Greater Male’ Area. As of last year, the Maldives Red Crescent had more than 200 members. The association also has many volunteers. The opportunity to work with MRC is open to anyone living in Maldives.

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Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) and Maldivian, the National Airline of the Maldives, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for enhanced collaboration on destination development.

The agreement was signed by MMPRC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO and MD), Ibrahim Shiuree, and Managing Director of Maldivian, Ibrahim Iyas.

This partnership aims to combine the strengths of both organisations to create innovative marketing campaigns and initiatives that will attract visitors from around the globe. Through joint efforts, MMPRC and Maldivian will focus on business-to-consumer marketing, including branded advertisements, promotional activities, and global campaigns.

Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and MD of MMPRC said this partnership would allow both parties to reach a wider audience and showcase the unparalleled beauty and diversity of our islands. The focus, he said, would be to create unforgettable experiences for visitors and promote sustainable tourism throughout the nation.

Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Maldivian said that this was a significant milestone in both parties to elevate Maldives as a premier destination, globally, as well as enhance travel experience, promote sustainable tourism, and drive economic growth. He added that this partnership was in line with the carrier’s expansion plans.

^{SOURCE : Visit Maldives}