Vice President Concludes CHOGM Visit With Call for Greater Cooperation
- Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef concluded his CHOGM visit to Antigua and Barbuda, calling for Commonwealth cooperation that strengthens national capacity and supports members' development priorities.
- He outlined the Maldives' goals under President Muizzu's 2040 vision, including raising the digital economy to 15% of GDP by 2030 and 33% renewable energy by 2028.
- He highlighted youth investment and fiscal pressures from global supply chain disruptions, urging the Commonwealth to help member states withstand external economic shocks.
The Maldives has called for Commonwealth cooperation that strengthens national capacity and supports countries’ development priorities, as Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef concluded his visit to Antigua and Barbuda for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The Vice President has departed the country following the summit, where he led a high-level Maldivian delegation that included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam. Discussions were held under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”
Addressing Executive Session 2, the Vice President argued that partnerships should help member states develop the skills and institutions needed to pursue their own development goals. He called for practical assistance, shared expertise and collective action to address challenges including climate resilience and digital transformation.
His intervention placed national capacity and self-reliance at the centre of the Maldives’ approach to Commonwealth cooperation. He stressed the importance of enabling countries to build on their strengths while working together on problems that extend beyond national borders.
The Vice President also outlined the Maldives’ development priorities under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of achieving developed nation status by 2040. These include increasing the digital economy’s contribution to 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 and generating 33 per cent of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2028.
He identified young people as a driving force behind these ambitions, stressing that investment in their skills and access to opportunities would be essential to sustaining progress and strengthening resilience.
The Vice President also drew attention to the fiscal pressures arising from global supply chain disruptions and wider economic risks. He urged the Commonwealth to take a more active role in supporting national development through partnerships that help member states withstand external shocks.
Alongside the executive session, the Vice President participated in sideline sessions and delivered statements on sustainable development and international cooperation. He also attended the summit’s opening ceremony, which was attended by King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth.
Across these engagements, the Maldives emphasised the need to connect Commonwealth cooperation with practical national priorities, particularly the capacity to manage economic pressures and deliver its energy and digital ambitions.
