VP Jihad to lead Maldives Investment Forum

It has been decided that Vice President Abdulla Jihad, and not President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will lead the upcoming Maldives Investment Forum 2016, scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India next week.

An official from Ministry of Economic Development reported to “Sun” this Wednesday that it had been decided VP Jihad would be the government’s top representative at the forum; and that President Yameen would definitely not be attending the event.

Spokesperson for President’s Office, Ibrahim Muaz refused to make a comment, stating that President’s Office would be the one to initiate information regarding President’s official trips.

MIF III is scheduled to be held at Taj Palace in New Delhi, on November 21 and 22.

An advance team of officials from Ministry of Economic Development are already in New Delhi to make final preparations.

President Yameen had attended MIF I, which was held in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore in 2014; but had not attended MIF II, which was held in Beijing, China in 2015.

The government was, instead, represented by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor.