Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 250

President urges embracing Islamic principles and respecting Maldivian values on National Identity Revival Day

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has urged the public to embrace Islamic principles and respect Maldivian values, adding this would provide spiritual fulfilment and prosperity. He made the remarks during his special National Identity Revival Day address.

The President emphasised the importance of reviving the concept of national identity among Maldivians through the integration of intellectual and modern principles, as well as the incorporation of contemporary technology. In this regard, President Dr Muizzu affirmed his commitment to preserving national identity guided by the principles of Islam and the teachings of the Holy Quran to deter harmful influences while promoting positive values within the society.

Adding that a nation’s cultural framework is based on its worldview, the President stated that the moral teachings of Islam govern societal cultures and customs in the Maldives. As such, he emphasised that embracing and upholding Islam has been the defining factor of Maldivian national identity.

The President noted the significance of National Identity Revival Day coinciding with Ramadan this year, emphasising the role of Islam in shaping nationhood in the Maldives. He credited the teachings of Islam with upholding human dignity, deterring wrongdoing, fostering respect for leadership, contributing to religious infrastructure, and values such as honesty and offering regular prayers within society. Additionally, the President drew an example of Maldivian brotherhood from the scriptures of foreign travellers who described the shared compassion, empathy, and peace amongst Maldivians in their writings. He also referenced instances in Maldivian history when the nation collectively rallied against foreign attackers, liberating themselves through unwavering faith in defending Islam.

President Dr Muizzu described national identity as one deeply rooted in the conscience of Maldivians for the millennia that the Maldives has inhabited. In this regard, he stated that our national identity accumulated through shared experiences, cultures, population growth, and shared beliefs that have led to the continuity of our existence.

The President stated that National Identity Revival Day is significant for the Maldives as it remains the foundation for nationhood.

The President concluded his special address by urging a collective commitment to uphold the principles of Islam and Maldivian values. He also prayed for the Maldives to remain a prosperous nation enriched with spiritual and emotional well-being.

 SOURCE : The President’s Office

Maldives backs Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan presented at Arab League summit

 The Maldives has welcomed the adoption of Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, which was endorsed at the Arab League Summit on Gaza in Cairo, Egypt, on 4 March. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, announced the Maldives’ support in a post on social media platform X following the summit’s approval of Egypt’s proposal.

The Arab summit in Cairo, Egypt, approved Egypt’s proposal to replace US President Donald Trump’s vision of expelling Gaza’s Muslims and developing a ‘Riviera’ in Gaza.

In his post, the Maldivian Foreign Minister said the proposed plan’s focus on relief and rebuilding of Gaza under the governance of the Palestinian Authority paves the way for a lasting peaceful solution where the people of Palestine can remain on their land and uphold the Palestinian cause. He expressed hope that with these measures, the establishment of an independent state in Palestine would come about, consistent with the pre-1967 Palestinian borders, with East Jerusalem as its sovereign state.

Egypt’s proposal includes transitional measures, reconstruction and governance.

Under the first phase of the Egyptian proposal, a governing committee will be formed for Gaza within six months. According to the plan, Gaza’s reconstruction would begin with the clearing of rubble from Salah al-Din Street. Once the roads are clear, 200,000 housing units will be constructed to accommodate 1.2 million people, and about 60,000 damaged buildings will be restored. The next phases will see the construction of an additional 400,000 homes.

The Arab countries have launched talks on the reconstruction of Gaza after Israel’s genocide in Gaza destroyed the city’s homes and infrastructure. The Israelis launched their inhuman aggression against Gaza on 7 October 2023. The death toll in Gaza has risen to 61,700, with another 111,000 injured.

 SOURCE : PSM

Foreign Minister Dr Khaleel sends Independence Day greetings to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, sends a message of felicitations to the Minister for Foreign and Regional Integration Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP, on the Independence Day of the Republic of Ghana. 

The minister’s message reads as follows: 

“On behalf of the Government and the people of the Maldives, I extend warm greetings and sincere congratulations to Your Excellency, the Government, and the people of the Republic of Ghana on the joyous occasion of Ghana’s Independence Day. 

I look forward to strengthening the friendly ties between our two countries and enhancing our cooperation both bilaterally and in the multilateral arena. 

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.” 

SOURCE : PSM 

Maldives seeks better connectivity with key airlines, tour operator 

Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim has met with several key airlines and tour operators on the sidelines of the ongoing ITB Berlin Fair to offer better connectivity for tourists arriving in the Maldives. 

The Minister is accompanied by top officials of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) and the country’s travel and tourism industry. 

On the sidelines of ITB, Minister Thoriq met officials from British Airways, Condor Airlines and Qatar Airways. 

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment said the discussions during the meetings focused on strategic partnerships to improve air connectivity and access to the Maldives. 

In addition to the airlines, Minister Thoriq had also met representatives of Booking.com and Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA) to explore ways to enhance visitor experience. 

During his visit to the ITB Fair, Minister Thoriq attended the United Nations (UN) Tourism Ministers Summit, where he discussed enhancing investment, ensuring peace, and strengthening global tourism resilience. 

The Minister underscored the significance of international collaboration during the summit, which he said remains critical to navigating the changes in guest expectations and harnessing technology to strengthen the global tourism industry. 

He also reaffirmed Maldives’ commitment to enhancing the visitor experience and building a resilient, competitive, and future-ready industry. 

The Minister is accompanied by top officials of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) and the country’s travel and tourism industry. 

ITB Berlin Fair 2025 kicked off on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. A delegation of 200 delegates representing 89 companies from Maldives’ tourism industry is participating in the fair. 

SOURCE : PSM

Farhath Shaheer appointed as MIFCO’s CEO 

Brigadier General Retired Farhath Shaheer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO). 

The Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) confirmed Farhath’s appointment. He has previously served as the CEO of the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). 

Farhath Shaheer’s appointment as MIFCO’s CEO follows the dismissal of Dr Vitaliy Lyubimov, MIFCO’s first foreign CEO and Managing Director, earlier on Monday. Dr Vitaliy has served in the position since 9 December 2024. 

Established in 1993, MIFCO plays a pivotal role in developing and expanding the Maldives’ fisheries sector. 

SOURCE : PSM 

UK pips China to top Maldives tourist arrivals in February 

Immigration statistics show that the United Kingdom (UK) was the top source market for Maldives tourism in February. 

According to Maldives Immigration, 214,091 tourists visited the Maldives in February, bringing the total number of visitors to the island nation so far in 2025 to 428,954. 

The statistics showed that the UK pipped China to top the arrival charts in February with 23,210 visitors. Chinese tourists were a close second with 21,928, followed by Russia and Italy. 

The highest single-day arrival of tourists was on 16 February, with 9,518 arrivals, which also happens to be the highest single-day arrivals record so far in 2025. 

The daily arrivals average so far this year is 7,646 tourists. 

Despite the dip in February, China has continued to dominate the numbers as the top source tourist market for the island nation, with over 60,000 Chinese visitors so far this year, followed by Russia and the United Kingdom. 

The world-renowned tourist destination witnessed the highest number of tourist arrivals in a year in its 52-year tourism history in 2024. 

According to tourism figures, 2,047,435 tourists holidayed in the Maldives in 2024. This is a nine percent increase from the 1,878,543 tourists in 2023. 

This marks the first time Maldives has welcomed two million tourists to its shores in a calendar year. 

The government aims to improve tourism occupancy and attract 15 per cent more tourists this year than last year while boosting tourism revenue to USD 5 billion. 

SOURCE : PSM 

Food Safety Act brings down violations, boosts regulatory success, says MFDA 

The Maldives Food and Drugs Authority (MFDA) has reported substantially reduced food safety issues since ratifying and implementing the Food Safety Act. Enacted in May 2024, this legislation offers a comprehensive framework for regulating food safety, ensuring all food products—domestically produced, imported, or exported—are devoid of harmful substances and adhere to established standards. 

The current administration proposes the Food Safety Act to ensure that all food and beverages entering the country meet rigorous safety criteria. The law stipulates explicit procedures and standards that must be followed by all stakeholders within the food industry, including producers and vendors. It also authorises the MFDA to enact stringent punitive measures against non-compliant food service providers and production facilities. 

Aminath Shabana Ali, MFDA’s Food Quality Assurance Coordinator, told PSM News that the authority has ramped up inspections of food production and retail establishments since the law’s enactment. During these inspections, MFDA ensures adherence to recommended storage temperatures for food items. 

Ali noted that the new law has endowed the MFDA with additional powers to take punitive action against violators of food safety regulations. She added that this empowerment has led to a significant decline in issues identified during MFDA inspections. 

“When we receive a complaint from the public, we inspect the concerned shop. We immediately instruct shop owners to remove the problematic food products from the shelves if any issues are found,” Ali explained. “However, we have observed that some shop owners or clerks replace these items once our inspectors leave. The new law empowers us to take punitive measures against such practices.” 

Ali also highlighted the importance of compliance with the law and relevant regulations, which also extends to food producers. She elaborated that the MFDA has received complaints about improperly labelled food items produced in local homes and sold in shops. She urged all food producers and manufacturers to comply with the law and accompanying regulations, especially those preparing food at home for sale. 

According to the Food Safety Act, all food sellers and producers must register with the MFDA. Food can only be sold at registered outlets or shops. The law’s primary objective is to establish food production and preparation standards, including packaging, labelling, preservation, storage, trade, supply, and distribution. It also delineates the standards and licensing requirements for establishments involved in these processes, specifying the hygiene standards individuals must follow to ensure food safety. 

SOURCE : PSM