Maldives to host SIDS business and economic development forum next week

Foreign Ministry states Maldives will host the 2026 SIDS Global Business Network Forum and the inaugural Island Investment Forum from August 23 to 25, bringing together more than 200 participants from over 30 countries.

The three-day events will be held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé Hotel and are being jointly organised by the governments of the Maldives and Antigua and Barbuda, along with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).

The Foreign Ministry and Economic Ministry are coordinating the events on behalf of the government.

The Maldives was selected to host the forums following its prominent role at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), held in 2024. President Mohamed Muizzu served as vice president of the conference and chaired its plenary sessions, while the Maldives also took part in several panels and side events and hosted high-level discussions.

The country also served as a co-chair of the Preparatory Committee for the 2024 SIDS conference.

The SIDS Global Business Network Forum has been held every two years since the third international SIDS conference in Samoa in 2014. It brings together businesses, investors, development partners and civil society organisations to discuss ways to strengthen economic development in small island states.

This year’s program will focus on investment and business challenges facing SIDS, potential development projects and emerging economic opportunities. Participants are also expected to exchange experiences and explore practical solutions to common challenges, while creating opportunities for businesses, investors and development organizations from different SIDS regions to establish new partnerships.

For the Maldives, the forum will also serve as a platform to highlight the country’s experience and progress in areas including tourism, fisheries, renewable energy and environmental conservation. Maldivian businesses will have an opportunity to showcase innovative projects and initiatives to an international audience.

The Island Investment Forum, meanwhile, is being held for the first time. The forum was proposed under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, adopted at the 2024 international conference, with the aim of connecting investors with investment opportunities across small island developing states.

Discussions at the inaugural forum will focus on identifying investment opportunities, examining barriers that discourage investment in SIDS and exploring potential solutions. The event is also expected to facilitate connections between investors and governments seeking investment.

The Foreign Ministry said the two forums will provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among SIDS while expanding access to investment, business partnerships and development opportunities.