بســم اللّـه الرّحمـن الرّحيــم

Excellencies, Business Leaders, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

I would like to begin by congratulating and thanking the leadership of UAE, for graciously hosting us and organizing this EXPO, opening your doors to welcome the world in one place. Known for its strong visionary leadership, resilient economy and innovation in finance, architecture, commerce and trade, Dubai is one of the most fitting places to hold an event of such scale.

Thank you, distinguished dignitaries, especially those who arrived from abroad, for finding the time today to gather here at the Maldives Investment Forum.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

This investment forum is both timely and important to my country. We are currently on an ambitious roadmap to revitalize our economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our topmost priorities lie in fostering economic growth through sectoral diversification, environmental sustainability and the prosperity of our societies. These goals are parallel to the themes presented in this Expo; Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity to create a better future.

Our immediate and medium-term strategy to develop a consolidated response is to foster innovation, enable digital disruptions and accelerate public services that are people-centered, effective and resilient. Today, 93% of the resort workers and about 79% of the eligible population are fully vaccinated.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Maldives sits at the crossroads of the Indian subcontinent, offering a strategic trade conduit between the East and West. The Government of Maldives is taking concrete steps to develop the country’s investment climate that take into account our geographic position. Significant improvements have been made to our Legal and regulatory framework through a raft of policy reforms aimed at facilitating new investments in infrastructure, transport, services and energy.

I am pleased to present to you today through this forum, the opportunity to rally your investments with us. The islands that we have just opened for tourist resort development today, are excellent opportunities for investors to be part of the Maldives’ tourism success story and add their own innovative charisma and charm to shape the evolving tourism landscape of the country. Maldives is open for business, and Maldivians are ready to welcome you.

I would like to highlight that one of the central pillars of our economic reform agenda is private sector development. The promotion of an enabling environment involves removing unnecessary bureaucratic red tape with streamlined procedures to establish businesses, increase access to finance, ensure greater responsiveness, transparency, immutability and security for our investors.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Although the Maldives is a small country, we lead from the front in tackling the climate crisis. We have no time to spare in our efforts to counter the ever-growing existential threat posed by it. Promoting renewable energy and pursuing low carbon development are top priorities of my Government. We have embarked on an ambitious journey to achieve Net Zero by 2030. We rely on the generous support and assistance from the international community to help realize this goal.

99% of the territory of the Maldives consists of the ocean. Maldivians have always relied on the sea for their livelihoods and sustenance. The Blue Economy is a key component of the Government’s economic policy framework. The sustainable and effective utilization of our vast marine resources is of utmost importance for Maldivians, and there is much room to collaborate with international experts to accrue mutual benefits of promoting Blue Economy.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

I hope that today’s event will serve its purpose to showcase the immense untapped investment potential that the Maldives has to offer.

I invite you to join us on this transformational journey as we guide your investments from inception to fruition.

Thank you very much.