President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that physical work on more than 550 development projects—including both new and previously stalled initiatives—will begin across the Maldives within March and April. The commitment was shared during the first episode of Rayyithunnaa Eku, a podcast launched by the President’s Office.
The announcement comes amid public concern over delays in infrastructure development, particularly as the country faces mounting economic pressures. Speaking on the podcast, President Muizzu sought to assure listeners that progress would accelerate in the coming weeks, stating, “We are working during the last 10 days of Ramadan as well. Hence, works in islands will proceed at an extremely fast pace.”
The President reiterated that many of the ongoing and upcoming projects are expected to reach completion within this year and the next. He also described 2024 and 2025 as years of implementation and fulfilment of his administration’s electoral pledges.
Recent weeks have seen the government awarding a range of infrastructure projects to state-owned enterprises, including the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), Fenaka Corporation, and the Road Development Corporation (RDC). However, despite the surge in project signings, official figures show that capital expenditure on such projects has remained significantly lower this year compared to last.
The push for development comes at a time when the country’s debt remains alarmingly high. Both domestic and external debt levels have led international financial institutions to caution against unchecked spending and call for a reduction in wasteful expenditure.
Nevertheless, President Muizzu said the public would soon begin to see results as the administration continues its efforts to manage the economy while delivering on key infrastructure promises.
