Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 142

President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu has envisioned a future for the Maldives, where young people are empowered, and where digital innovation is the engine that drives economic opportunity and social equity. He made these remarks during his address at the Plenary Segment of the Summit of the Future, held at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ).

In his address, the President called for the multilateral system to not be an abstract concept but a practical reality in addressing global challenges. The President presented three proposals aimed at enhancing the multilateral system to yield tangible results.

Firstly, the President highlighted the critical importance of empowering young people. He emphasised the need to design declarations and agreements to inspire and engage the youth. Additionally, he outlined his initiatives to include young people in the policymaking process and to create opportunities for them to unleash their creative potential.

Secondly, the President emphasised the urgent need to combat climate change, noting that climate anxiety is a real issue affecting approximately 62 percent of youth worldwide. He reiterated the Maldives’ commitment to combatting climate change and called on all countries to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.

Thirdly, the President emphasised that financing is essential to bring positive outcomes. He stressed the need for reliable and sustainable development and climate funding and called for a financial system that listens and works for everyone.

Before closing his statement, the President also stated that future generations will judge not the processes initiated, but the concrete actions taken by international community, and called to halt the genocidal war in Gaza, to hold perpetrators of human rights accountable, and to grant the State of Palestine full membership of the United Nations.

The President is currently in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Source: The President’s Office.

President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with United Nations Secretary-General His Excellency Antonio Guterres.

At the meeting, the President emphasised the Maldives’ commitment to playing a more active role in the UN system, particularly on key issues affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He also briefed the Secretary General on the fiscal challenges facing the country, adding that the government is working on a fiscal reform agenda to bring down debt and fiscal conditions to a sustainable level. The President stressed the importance of support from bilateral and multilateral partners in this effort.

During the meeting, United Nations Secretary-General commended the Maldives for its efforts in addressing global challenges, particularly on climate change adaptation.

He emphasised his full commitment to supporting the Maldives in its adaptation efforts and in tackling other pressing challenges faced by the nation.

The President concluded the meeting by thanking the Secretary-General by expressing his appreciation for the UN’s efforts to provide opportunities for all member nations to address global concerns under the Secretary-General’s leadership.

The meeting took place this afternoon on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Source: The President’s Office

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that the continuity and neutrality of its policies represent the greatest achievement of Maldivian foreign policy. This was expressed by Secretary for Multilateral Affairs Ahmed Shiyan during a special segment on PSM News.

In his remarks, Shiyan highlighted the Maldives’ commitment to neutrality since establishing foreign relations, calling it one of the country’s significant foreign policy successes. He pointed out that the Maldives has experienced substantial growth through its United Nations membership, which has facilitated economic and social development with support from various nations.

Shiyan also noted the role of UN bodies in shaping the country’s policies. He noted that the Maldives has made notable contributions within the UN, including the 1989 resolution on “Security of Small States,” drafted following the 1988 attack.

This resolution has been referenced and adopted in various contexts, making it a source of pride for Maldivians and earning recognition from the international community.

Secretary Shiyan asserted that the country’s foreign policies have remained consistent despite changes in administration, demonstrating resilience against external influences. Likewise, the current President, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, prioritizes the interests of small nations and focuses on issues relevant to Islamic countries.

SOURCE : PSM

Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef and his spouse, Aishath Afreen Mohamed attended the ceremony to commemorate the 94th National Day of Saudi Arabia.

At the event, which took place at Villa Nautica, Maldives, on Sunday, Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, with a deep sense of personal connection and fondness, expressed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the government and citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the function, the Vice President highlighted that the close relationship between the two nations, based on common Islamic customs, has grown stronger, mainly through current initiatives to enhance mutual connections led by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

The Vice President expressed profound gratitude for the kind hospitality and generous support from Saudi Arabia through aid and logistical support for Maldivian pilgrims during the Hajj season. He also noted the success of the bilateral projects primarily through the Saudi Fund for Development.

Ambassador Matrek bin Abdullah Al-Ajalin Al-Dosari and the Embassy team were thanked for their tireless efforts in promoting Islamic solidarity as both countries collaborate.

The attendees at the function also viewed a video documentary on the history of Saudi Arabia, showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage and significant milestones.

SOURCE : The President’s Office

On the occasion of the National Day of Saudi Arabia, President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended felicitations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In separate messages sent to the King and Prime Minister, President Dr Muizzu noted that the relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia are built on the foundation of mutual respect and trust, underscored by shared history and values. He underscored confidence in the brotherly relationship and solidarity between the two nations to continue to flourish and reach new heights of excellence and advancement in the years ahead.

The President extended his best wishes for the good health, happiness, and success of the King and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and for the continued prosperity of the people of Saudi Arabia.

In addition, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer also sent a message of felicitations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, on the occasion, reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to enhancing cooperation and deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.

SOURCE : The President’s Office

The Maldives, in collaboration with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), hosted a Side Event titled “Building Productive Capacity in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” during the High-Level Segment of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, today.

During the side event, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu delivered the keynote remarks. The President highlighted that while some States enjoy the benefits of economic growth other States have struggled at the same time and noted countries like the Maldives can only reach the next stage of their development through the introduction of new industries and through closing the technological gap between countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer delivered a remarks at the panel discussion that followed after. In his remarks, Minister Zameer emphasised the significant role of Productive Capacity Index (PCI) that will enable Maldives to develop our own economic development model in the next stages of our journey to become an advance economy and a land of opportunity. Recognising the unique challenges in terms of growth due to climate change related shocks to our economy, Minister Zameer expressed that the dialogue will lead to an inflow of investment and belief in the Maldives ushering in a new age of development.

The panel discussion on the subject was moderated by Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed. The panelists were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Regional Integration of Cabo Verde, Dr. Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, Lord Collins of Highbury, and the Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD, Pedro Manuel Moreno.

The Panelists discussed the importance of international cooperation and partnership in building climate-resilient economies in SIDS and explored how the Productive Capacity Index can support SIDS in assessing and improving productive capacity.

The purpose of this side event was to call for early implementation of “The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States” (ABAS) which was adopted during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), held earlier this year in Antigua and Barbuda.

^{SOURCE : Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

The government aims to complete the development of the cold storage in Thinadhoo City by next year. This was disclosed by the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam during his recent visit to the city.

While in Thinadhoo, Minister Shiyam engaged with the local fishing community and listened to their concerns. Fishermen expressed issues regarding insufficient fuel supplies and delayed payments, highlighting the challenges they face in obtaining fuel on credit from MIFCO and FSM. They also called for the development of reef fishing in the region.

In response, Minister Shiyam stated that discussions are ongoing with relevant parties to address the fuel supply issues. He assured the fishermen that the government would support the development of reef fishing in collaboration with MIFCO. Additionally, he provided information on the RSW system and the fishermen’s register.

SOURCE : PSM

President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu recognised the need for increased productivity and capacity building to achieve long-term, inclusive economic growth at the Maldives’ side event, “Building Productive Capacities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS),” at the UN.

Speaking at the event, the President acknowledged the Maldives’ progress from a low-income to an upper-middle-income country, primarily due to the growth of the tourism sector. He further highlighted the challenges to overcoming the middle-income trap. To address this, President Muizzu called upon the international community to assist SIDS in diversifying their economies and expanding their productive capacity frameworks.

In his statement, the President proposed three key strategies to achieve the Ten-Year Programme of Action outlined in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAs).

These strategies include:

Technological Advancement: The President reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to facilitating access to global payment gateways, ensuring that the country is fully integrated into the global market.

Resilient Infrastructure: The President revealed the Maldives’ initiatives to upgrade infrastructure across key sectors, including transportation, energy, and digital connectivity, in order to access global supply chains and attract new investments.

Evidence-Based Policy: This includes the Productive Capacities Index developed by UNCTAD. The President urged development partners to provide financial support for tools that help make informed policy decisions and drive economic change. He also invited UNCTAD and other relevant UN agencies to collaborate with the Maldives to identify country-specific policy interventions to boost productivity.

President Dr Muizzu concluded his keynote address by inviting panellists to recommend actionable steps for improving productive capacities and fostering innovation.

This side event was co-hosted by the Maldives, in collaboration with St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

SOURCE: The President’s Office

Maldives and the World Bank have held significant talks pertaining to data sharing. The discussions were held between the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath, and senior delegations from the World Bank.

Following the meeting, State Minister Dr. Kinaanath stated that the discussions were focused on restructuring The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization and Diversification (DMADD) Project. He said that the importance of the Privacy and Personal Data Protection Bill and the Cybersecurity Bill were also emphasized during the meeting.

The DMADD Project, valued at USD 10 million, is financed through World Bank assistance, with the agreement signed on July 4, 2022. The project aims to implement essential legal amendments, establish a regulatory framework for internet and communications, and enhance the technical capacity of government authorities. This initiative aims to enhance the social and economic opportunities available.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology indicated that the project aims to introduce a digital identity system to enhance government service quality and establish a system for collecting and storing data on environmental and weather changes.

Source: PSM