Maldives News Bulletin Volume 114

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Moosa Zameer had an audience with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister of Bahrain today, at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace, during the Minister’s ongoing Official Visit to Bahrain.

Minister Zameer presented a letter from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, addressed to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain.

Thanking the leadership and the government of Bahrain for the closeness accorded to the Maldives throughout the past few decades, Minister also discussed ways to deepen existing bilateral ties between both countries. Minister Zameer and the Crown Prince also deliberated on international issues of mutual interest like the global economic situation, climate change and environment.

Minister Zameer was accompanied by Ambassador-at-Large, Ahmed Nasser, Secretary, Bilateral, Dr. Hala Hameed, Joint Secretary, Mariyam Reesha and Assistant Director, Mizna Waheed.

^{SOURCE : Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Manama today.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, the two Ministers reflected on the long-standing bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and Bahrain, that is rooted in the two countries’ common Islamic heritage, shared values and principles. The discussions focused on strengthening the existing bilateral partnership between the two countries and prospects for enhancing economic cooperation. The two Ministers also discussed the possibility of holding the first round of bilateral political consultations between the Maldives and Bahrain at a time of mutual convenience.

Minister Zameer expressed gratitude for the closeness accorded to the Maldives by the Kingdom of Bahrain throughout the years and expressed hopes of increased engagement between the two countries following the visit. Minister Zameer was accompanied at the meeting by the Ambassador-at-Large, Ahmed Naseer, Secretary, Bilateral, Dr. Hala Hameed, Joint Secretary, Mariyam Reesha and Assistant Director, Mizna Waheed.

^{SOURCE : Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

Maldivian athlete Nasrullah Ahmed presented his 95th marathon medal and jersey to Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef at a special ceremony held at the President’s Office today.

Vice President acknowledged Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Sergeant First Class Nasrullah’s achievements and congratulated him for his outstanding performance. The Vice President also encouraged Nasrullah to persevere towards his goal of attaining the record number of marathons completed in the Asia Region. The Vice President also enquired about Nasrullah’s needs and discussed ways to facilitate his career path.

Nasrullah, who started his marathon running career in early 1999, deems 2018 as his most successful year throughout his career in which he participated in 13 marathons and clocking all the marathons ahead of the given finishing time. One of Nasrullah’s most notable achievements is securing first place, completing his run at the Hindustan Marathon held in New Delhi, India, in 2020.

^{SOURCE : The President’s Office}

First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed attended the opening ceremony of the validation workshop of the 10-year master plan for Thalassaemia prevention and control as the chief guest.

Speaking at the ceremony, the First Lady emphasised that the validation workshop of the 10- year master plan for Thalassaemia prevention and control was a crucial national effort in addition to a humanitarian service. The First Lady highlighted that the Thalassaemia scenario amongst Maldivians is at a concerning level. She detailed that 955 children have been registered for the condition and that 666 children are currently seeking care.

The First Lady emphasised that the Administration, under its efforts to address the national issue, had sent 14 children abroad for bone marrow transplants within the past 8 months, from which one child had already successfully completed the surgery and returned to the Maldives in good health. Speaking further, the First Lady elaborated on the efforts to enhance services and improve the situation of Thalassaemia in the country.

^{SOURCE : The President’s Office}

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has received USD 190 million in July, beating forecasts by 14.6 percent. While the agency had beaten expectations, the collections were a decrease of 17.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

The latest statistics released by MIRA show that the decrease in revenue from June last year to this year was attributed to the postponement of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and income tax deadlines to July due to the Eid holiday in June last year.

There were no such extensions made to the tax deadlines this year. The statistics show that the increase in revenue was driven by an increase in Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) revenue, resulting from a 2.4 percent increase in tourist arrivals and the second interim prepayment of bank income tax made by banks in July. The statistics also show that income tax was the largest contributor to the revenue received by MIRA in July this year, amounting to USD 91 million. GST followed as the second largest source with USD 63 million. In addition, USD 7.5 million was collected from tourism land rent, USD 5 million from the departure tax, and USD 5 million from the airport development fee.

^{SOURCE : PSM}

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has revealed plans to redevelop the Addu City link road to modern standards and initiate the second phase of road construction in the region.

Speaking to PSM News during his visit to Addu, Minister Muththalib disclosed that key projects, including land reclamation, beach protection, and the Hankede Bridge project under the Indian Line of Credit facility from EXIM Bank, have been handed over to the Maldivian government. He emphasised that these projects would significantly boost the Addu economy. He also highlighted the Hankede Integrated Tourism Development Project, which is expected to create numerous job opportunities and increase tourism capacity in the region.

Additionally, Minister Muththalib noted that Addu now has the largest artificial beach ever developed in the Maldives, constructed through land reclamation. He added that this beach is intended to be dedicated to local tourism as part of the upcoming land use plan. He also said that the residents of Addu share the government’s vision of transforming the area into a fully-developed destination.

Regarding the road construction project in Addu, Minister Muththalib said that the majority of the work has been completed, with the entire project expected to finish within the year. The modernization of the roads in Addu includes the development of over 100 km of roads to contemporary standards. The project will also integrate drainage systems, streetlights, and cameras into a CCTV network.

Furthermore, Minister Muththalib highlighted the government’s commitment to launching the second phase of road construction in Addu, prioritising the link road. He said that the Addu Four Lane Detour Link Road, or Hankede Bridge, is a key infrastructure project in the southwest of Hankede, developed for tourism purposes. Initiated in 2021, the bridge is crucial for the area’s tourism development.

Moreover, Minister Muththalib underscored the necessity of redeveloping the Addu link road, which is over 20 years old and in poor condition. He stressed that expanding and properly developing this link road is vital for the city’s progress. He also said that the government plans to prioritise the redevelopment of the link road and other remaining roads in the region.

The Addu road construction project will cover over 100 km, significantly more than the 60 km previously planned by the previous government. The new roads will be paved and developed to meet modern standards.

^{SOURCE : PSM}

Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has revealed that efforts are underway to increase the number of flights between the Maldives and India. The remarks were made by the Minister while providing insight on the efforts to increase the number of Indian tourists to the Maldives. India is a vital source market for the Maldives, with over 70,000 tourists from India visiting the Maldives last year. India was the leading source of tourist arrivals to the Maldives last year and is currently among the top six countries contributing to tourist arrivals.

Hence, the Government is prioritising the Indian market, with a view to increase arrivals. To date, a total of 73,000 tourists have arrived from India. Speaking to PSM News, Minister Faisal stated that he engaged in comprehensive discussions with several ministers from India. As such, he noted that the primary focus of the discussions with India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, was to boost tourist arrivals to the Maldives and to attract investments to further develop the tourism sector. The discussions also covered providing training and scholarships in tourism-related fields and expanding flight operations by introducing more airlines from India. Additionally, the Minister advocated for increasing the frequency of scheduled flights by existing airlines operating between the Maldives and India.

Furthermore, Minister Faisal disclosed arrangements to hold meetings between the Ministry of Tourism and airlines. The Minister stated that in addition to increasing the number of flights, the Government seeks to engage more Indian tour operators.

Vistara Airlines from India is to operate 21 flights between the Maldives and India from September onwards, to coincide with the peak period. Vistara and Indigo Airlines are two Indian airlines that run regular flights to the country. Additionally, Maldivian and Manta Airlines from the Maldives, also operates direct flights to India.

Oman Air to Resume Seasonal Flights Between Muscat, Malé

Oman Air has announced the resumption of its seasonal flights between Muscat and Malé, set to commence on 27th October 2024.

This development comes as part of the airline’s strategy to enhance travel options for passengers during the peak winter season, particularly those looking to explore the Maldives.

With the reinstatement of four weekly flights, Oman Air aims to cater to the growing demand from tourists and business travellers alike. Maldives continues to be a top destination for travellers seeking a unique and unforgettable holiday experience. This move is expected to provide a considerable boost to the Maldivian tourism sector.

This strategic move by Oman Air not only reinforces its dedication to offering diverse travel experiences but also highlights the importance of the Maldives as a key destination in the airline’s network.

^{SOURCE : PSM}

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation to enhance the transport sector’s data management system.

This agreement was entered into in support of preparing the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. The agreement was signed by Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Thoriq noted that previous National Greenhouse Gas Inventories in the Maldives have shown that the transport sector contributes to around 25 percent of the country’s emissions. He highlighted the challenges in sustainably gathering detailed information. He also emphasised that the new database will not only streamline the collection of climate change and environmental data but also support various research efforts and policy development. This initiative, Minister Thoriq noted, is a significant step towards strengthening national efforts to combat climate change. He also said that the agreement would provide crucial data needed by the transport sector for the preparation and implementation of reports such as the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and the Maldives Climate Change Action Plan or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Furthermore, Minister Thoriq said that the project will improve information management within the transportation sector by introducing an electronic portal for easy access to necessary data. Speaking in the ceremony, Minister Ameen said that the agreement would significantly facilitate the Ministry’s work in ensuring vehicle accuracy and is a key step towards achieving the 26 goals outlined in the Male’ Fahi Programme. He also noted that the transport sector is responsible for a substantial portion of greenhouse gas emissions, and the real-time data collected by the Transport Ministry will be critical.

The National GHG Inventory is being developed under the Capacity Building for Improved Transparency of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Actions in the Maldives (CBIT Maldives) project. The initiative is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is being implemented in collaboration with the Environment Ministry and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

^{SOURCE : PSM}

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) Heena Waleed has said that the ongoing reforms at Aasandha Company Limited and NSPA aim to transform the system into a comprehensive service provider for individuals in need. She made the remarks during a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs.

Speaking at the Committee meeting, which included discussions with representatives from NSPA and Aasandha, CEO Heena outlined the efforts being made to enhance and strengthen the service systems of both entities. In response to an inquiry by a committee member, she said that Aasandha would prioritise private insurance starting from October 1. She also said that the objective behind this change is to ensure that the Aasandha better serves those most in need.

Heena also highlighted specific policy changes set to take effect from October. She said that individuals with other insurance plans will be required to first clear their bills through their primary insurance before using Aasandha and NSPA for the remaining balance. She also said that efforts are underway to revise both welfare and Aasandha policies, with drafts expected to be submitted to the Cabinet in the future.

In the Committee session Heena also looked at the cost of services at the private hospitals, noting that it was excessively high. She said that NSPA bears a significant financial burden, given that major surgeries are not conducted in government hospitals. She also emphasised that this burden could be alleviated if such facilities were made available in government hospitals.

^{SOURCE : PSM}

Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed has stated that the administration will launch a significant housing project before the year ends. The statement was made by the Minister in his brief to Parliament.

Speaking at the Parliament, Minister Dr. Haidar shed light on several projects which were stalled when President Dr. Muizzu and his government assumed office. The Minister stated that the current administration prioritises the completion of the stalled projects before launching the projects they planned. Revealing plans to launch a new housing project before year-end, he stated that the government will establish 85,000 housing units nationwide, before the end of this term. Furthermore, Minister Dr. Haidar stated that the government is exerting maximum effort to sustainably address the housing crisis.

The minister said that the primary objective of the land reclamation of Rasmale’ was also to address the housing crisis. He noted that the actions of the previous government posed several challenges for the current government to initiate and implement the housing projects planned.

^{SOURCE : PSM}

Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has announced plans to inaugurate six to eight resorts this year. The Minister emphasised the Ministry of Tourism is extending full support to ensure the expedited opening of these resorts.

Speaking at a programme aired on PSM News, Minister Faisal stated several resort developmental projects in 63 islands were stalled for various reasons, when the current administration took office. The Minister noted that practical implementation of projects on 22 of these islands had been delayed for an extended period.

Hence, the Ministry has sought recommendations from the attorney general regarding the expedition of these development projects.

Furthermore, Minister Faisal disclosed that discussions were held with some of the contractors in charge of the developmental projects. The minister stated that the Ministry was willing to aid and support in building and environment seeking investors if necessary or changing the investor to a head lease foreign investor. He expressed confidence that up to six or eight resorts can be officially opened during this year. According to the statistics released by the ministry, 174 resorts currently operate with a bed capacity of 42,965 beds.

^{SOURCE : PSM}