Have asked for a MVR 300 million buget for Youth Ministry: President

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said he has requested for a MVR 300 million budget to be allocated for the Ministry of Youth for 2014.

The President made the statement while speaking at a Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) event, held opposite Petral Park in Male’ on Tuesday evening.

“Yesterday I have asked for MVR 300 million to be granted to the Youth Ministry, to the Youth Minister in this year’s [proposed] budget, as I’ve been saying during the campaign,” President Yameen said.

He said the government has started on implementing PPM’s campaign pledges, but said considerable time is needed for them to be completed.

He said the government will put great effort to improving relations between neighbouring countries and noted that he continues to receive messages of congratulations and recognition from key foreign countries, since his inauguration on Sunday.

He said the government will especially focus on fostering relations between Middle Eastern Arab-Islamic States. The new government will work to establish a foreign policy similar to the policy employed by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during his 30 years in government, President Yameen said.

He said he has asked Finance Minister Jihad to recall and amend the 2014 budget, proposed to the parliament. The budget needs to be overhauled completely, he said.

President Yameen said, as per his campaign pledge, he has asked the President’s Office to give him half of the presidential salary at the end of the month.