Kanni Wiganaraja, Assistant Secretary of the United Nations and UNDP Regional Director for South Asia and the Pacific, has stressed the importance of long-term policies in the Maldives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her remarks came at the end of her visit to Fuvahmulah City, where she praised the country’s commitment to long-term development strategies.
Wiganaraja commended the Maldivian government for its dedication to sustainable progress, noting that meaningful development cannot be achieved in a short period. She emphasised the need for a strong policy framework to steer these efforts towards achieving the SDGs.
The UNDP Regional Director highlighted the UNDP’s focus on supporting the development of a comprehensive 20-year national plan for the Maldives. She underlined that effective implementation of this plan will be critical to meeting the country’s long-term objectives. The plan, she said, must address key sectors including technical capacity building, women’s empowerment, and renewable energy investment, to secure sustainable growth.
Wiganaraja also pointed out that improving the country’s digital infrastructure could significantly contribute to advancing several SDGs. She emphasised that empowering women and expanding educational opportunities are essential investments for sustainable development. On renewable energy, she noted that the Maldives is currently burdened by high costs associated with oil imports, stressing that a shift towards renewable energy would help reduce these costs and support sustainable economic growth.
President Mohamed Muizzu, who has taken responsibility for overseeing the national development plan, has reiterated his commitment to making it a top priority. In a recent social media post announcing the plan’s launch, President Muizzu described it as a crucial initiative aimed at securing a brighter future for the nation. He expressed confidence that the plan would contribute to the development of all citizens and ensure the well-being of future generations.
