The President’s Office has disclosed that MVR 3.8 million was spent on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his delegation’s recent trip to attend the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference in Antigua and Barbuda.
The seven-day trip, undertaken from May 24 onwards, involved a delegation of 16 officials. A detailed breakdown of expenditures during the trip includes MVR 2.6 million on airfare, USD 39,000 (MVR 1,000) on lodging, USD 17,000 (MVR 1,000) on local transportation, MVR 1,000 for incidental expenses, USD 10,600 (MVR 1,000) on meals, and MVR 23,000 for miscellaneous costs.
According to the President’s Office, the trip facilitated important meetings with key figures from international bodies and financial institutions. These include discussions with the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, the United Nations Secretary-General, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Notably, the trip also secured pledges from investors to advance Maldives’ sustainable development initiatives, they said.
As the Vice Chair of this year’s SIDS conference, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu outlined the Maldives’ environmental conservation efforts during the event.