Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 129

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Moosa Zameer has sent Independence Day greetings to heads of three nations.

In separate greetings sent out, Minister Zameer sent greetings to Zheenbek Kulubaev the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, YB Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, and Dr. Amery Browne Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

In his message to Zheenbek Kulubaev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Minister Zameer sent warm greetings and felications on the 33rd Independence Day of the nation. He further stated that it was his sincere hope that the friendly relations that exist between the two nations will be strengthened in the years ahead. He also conveyed his best wishes for the Foreign Minister’s good health, well-being and continued progress and prosperity of the people of Kyrgyz Republic.

In his message to YB Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Minister Zameer conveyed warm congratulations on the day, calling the occasion a significant milestone in Malaysia’s unwavering spirit and commitment to freedom. He also expressed his desire to strengthen the ties between the two nations, for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries and harnessing regional development. He also conveyed his best wishes for the Foreign Minister’s good health, well-being and continued progress and prosperity of the people of Malaysia.

In his message to Dr. Amery Browne Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Minister Zameer extended warm greetings of the day. He also conveyed his best wishes for the Minister’s good health and well-being and or further peace and prosperity for the People of Trinidad and Tobago.

^{Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has represented the Maldivian tourism sector in the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2024.

PATA Travel Mart 2024 was held August 27-29 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) had collaborated with MMPRC for this event.

MPRC said that the promotion of “Destination Maldives” at this threeday event was focused on promoting the country’s unique geography, vibrant underwater marine life, and varieties of stay options, solidifying the Maldives’ status as a premier global destination.

The Maldives’ contingent at this event included MMPRC’s Chairperson, Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz; MMPRC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO & MD), Ibrahim Shiuree; MATATO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aminath Suzan and key industry partners. Each showcased the diverse experiences the Maldives offers, from serene island retreats to thrilling underwater adventures.

“With Tourism being the largest economic industry in the Maldives, participation in this fair has helped us reinforce our commitment to promoting our tourism assets and engaging with international stakeholders to drive sustainable growth in the industry,” CEO & MD Shiuree stated.

PATA Travel Mart 2024 marked the 25th anniversary of the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA) establishment in Thailand. The event offered unparalleled networking and contracting opportunities, with a one-day conference, a B2B Travel Mart, and multiple networking sessions. The event is popularised as a platform for travel and tourism organisations to access decision-makers, expand their networks, and undertake new business partnerships.

^{Source: MMPRC}

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has revealed the Government has submitted a full proposal to PayPal Holdings Inc., aiming to launch PayPal services in the Maldives. Speaking at a programme aired on PSM News, Minister Saeed highlighted that the introduction of PayPal services was a long-awaited goal for the youth and various stakeholders in the e-commerce sector.

The Minister reiterated President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s commitment of introducing a variety of services targeting the youth as he prioritises in ensuring a better future for them. He emphasised the potential for leveraging online platforms, including social media, to generate revenue and indicated the Government’s goal to enable local users to benefit from these platforms.

Furthermore, Minister Saeed also noted that many creative online businesses and individuals engaged in digital e-commerce face substantial challenges.

To address these issues, he mentioned that the Government had launched comprehensive discussions with relevant authorities and submitted a full proposal to launch PayPal services. PayPal, a widely used e-wallet application, facilitates convenient online transactions. However, while Maldivians can use PayPal to send funds abroad, they encounter challenges when it comes to receiving payments.

Introducing online payment systems and e-wallets in the Maldives is a pledge of President Dr Muizzu. The Government is working to fulfil this pledge, including plans to introduce additional e-wallets from other countries alongside PayPal.

The administration is optimistic that these initiatives will enhance the financial system and provide residents with greater convenience in financial transactions.

^{Source: PSM}

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has affirmed that the Government is committed to resolving critical issues facing the country. He made the remarks during the graduation and oath-taking ceremony for the participants of the 29th Basic Training Programme of the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS). Speaking at the event held in Maafushi island, Kaafu Atoll, Minister Saeed emphasised that the Government aims to tackle vital issues facing the nation.

He praised President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his courageous efforts in nation-building and called for all institutions to collaborate in this endeavour. He also expressed confidence that the Maldives could become a more developed nation in the region by working together. A total of 36 officers completed the training programme, which spanned three months and consisted of eight modules.The course covered various topics, including health and safety management, leadership skills, use of force in different situations, first aid in emergencies, and fire response.

In addition, it provided training on prisoner searches, prison security, and familiarisation with relevant laws and regulations. Prison Private Ahmed Amaan was also recognised as the best officer across all aspects of the course.

^{Source: PSM}

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has sent felicitations to The Maldives National University on its 51st anniversary and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Maldives Police Service Day. The President sent felicitations to both institutions in separate tweets posted on social media.

The President acknowledged the national service rendered by police personnel with gratitude and felicitated police officers and their families on Maldives Police Service Day. The President sincerely thanked the officers for their responsible and proud service to the nation day and night.

In his social media post on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of The Maldives National University, President Dr Muizzu felicitated the management, employees, educators, alumni, students, and their guardians.

^{Source: The President’s Office}

Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Sham’aan Waheed has stated that the attempts of foreigners to enter the Maldives illegally, can also be reported to the authority via the Immigration Watch portal.

He made the remarks in an interview with PSM News. Sham’aan noted that some foreigners enter the Maldives on a tourist visa and misuse it upon entering the country. Provision of false information and forged identities, he noted, were common amongst such individuals.

The Controller General disclosed that the Immigration Watch portal launched by the authority can be used to report the illegal entry of immigrants into the country. The portal, he said, had received 473 such cases, with 396 cases attended to.

Sham’aan noted that more than 80 reports are currently undergoing the verification process, and any follow up action would be taken as necessary. As part of its efforts to solve the issue of illegal immigrants, the Maldives Immigration has so far this year deported more than 3,300 foreigners who were illegally conducting businesses or were in the Maldives with incomplete documents.

The Immigration Watch Portal was launched on July 17. The platform allows anonymous reporting of undocumented migrants and attempts of illegal entry. The portal is open around the clock and supporting documentation can be submitted to the portal, accessed via imuga.immigration.gov.mv.

Foreign workers can only be brought into the country if there are available vacancies, and they are eligible for the work through relevant agencies, according to the Maldivian Constitution.

However, numerous instances of immigrants bypassing these regulations have been reported. The Government launched a massive campaign to centralise information on all foreigners in the Maldives into a unified database, aiming to resolve expatriate-related issues within a three-year timeframe. Maldives Immigration is the central agency tasked with the operation, with the agency seeking to expand operations into the atolls.

^{Source: PSM}

Fenaka Corporation has disclosed that it is to procure generators for 45 islands to improve the electricity services provided. The company’s Managing Director Muaz Mohamed Rasheed made the statement as part of his interview to PSM News.

Speaking to PSM News, Muaz noted that most of the islands where Fenaka provides electricity needed to upgrade the generators to cater to demand.

He further disclosed that the company has so far provided 47 new gensets to the islands with generators in the worst condition. Muaz noted that more generators were needed to cater to the demand, adding that they were targeting to procure them before Ramadan next year.

Muaz added that the condition of the power plants in the islands had deteriorated due to lack of proper maintenance. As such, he noted that the work to upgrade the electricity network in 15 islands is scheduled to commence very soon. Fenaka Corporation is responsible for providing utility services to the islands. Fenaka currently provides electricity service to more than 150 islands.

^{Source: PSM}

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has pledged to work towards providing affordable fuel for fishermen. He made the commitment after meeting with the fishermen and council members from Naifaru Island, Lhaviyani Atoll, where the two parties exchanged a fruitful dialogue. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Shiyam acknowledged the fishermen’s concerns about rising fuel prices. He assured them that he would pursue discussions with the State Trading Organisation (STO) and its subsidiary, Fuel Supply Maldives Private Limited (FSM), to secure cheaper fuel options for the fishing community.

Additionally, Minister Shiyam shared updates on the Government’s fishermen registration programme, explaining how to register and highlighting the benefits available to individuals who do. He also provided information on loans available for installing Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW), a type of saltwater fish cooling system.

Naifaru has a vibrant fishing community. Twenty-five fishing vessels from the island are currently active, with many youths actively involved in operations.

^{Source: PSM}

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) have kicked off preparations for the upcoming peak season of tourist arrivals, under the campaign Winter Prep Kick-off 2024. MACL this event aims to bring the management team up to par on the preparation plan and ensure that the said plan was in line with the company’s objectives. The Facility Management and Utilities Division (FMUD) took the lead on the preparations, with contributions from other divisions.

The event was attended by the Chief executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of MACL Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Lamaan, Deputy Managing Director Mujthabaa Latheef and other senior officials of the company. MACL said their primary goal was to create an environment that ensures efficient and convenient services for both airlines and passengers.

To achieve this, the management is addressing issues such as overcrowding, improving the convenience and cleanliness of the current passenger terminal, and maintaining optimal temperatures throughout the facility. In his remarks at the event, CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed described the Winter Prep Kick-off 2024 as the beginning of the company’s preparatory efforts. He lauded the collaborative approach in discussing plans with staff and noted that goals for the next year’s tourism peak season will be established. Shareef assured that the challenges associated with these goals will be addressed and that the airport will be equipped with the necessary resources to improve the quality of services provided.

^{Source: PSM}