President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the advancement of Maldives 2.0 will expand opportunities for citizens to access services and generate income while remaining in their home islands, framing digitalisation as central to the country’s decentralisation agenda.
Speaking on the occasion of Decentralisation Day, the President stated that as the goals of a digital Maldives are realised, residents across the atolls would increasingly be able to access public services and pursue economic activities without relocating to the capital.
In his address, the President extended greetings to citizens and public servants, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening decentralised governance and improving service delivery at the island level. He noted that the country’s dispersed geography has historically required a decentralised approach to administration, and that the current constitutional framework provides further scope to deepen this system.
The President stated that over the past two years, efforts have been made to expand delegated powers to councils and strengthen public trust. Measures introduced during this period include creating additional avenues for councils to generate income, formalising the position and status of Women’s Development Committees, and implementing salary adjustments for council employees. The Government has also provided resources to councils and undertaken the construction of modern administrative buildings to enhance operational capacity.
He further assured that work is underway to expand sports facilities and public parks across islands, and to complete essential water and sewerage services in all inhabited islands. Infrastructure projects including road development and harbour expansion have been implemented concurrently across multiple islands, he said, while consultations have been conducted nationwide in preparation for a National Development Master Plan.
Addressing wider national challenges, the President stated that efforts are ongoing to develop long term solutions to issues such as undocumented migration, drug trafficking, and gang related crime.
The remarks position digital transformation and infrastructure expansion as parallel components of the Government’s decentralisation strategy, linking service accessibility with broader economic participation at the island level.
