President: Biggest focus of Budget 2018 – HR development

The Projected State Budget for 2018 has been compiled with the biggest focus of human resource development, but it is not something which can be accomplished within just one year, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Speaking during the inauguration of Dhaalu Airport this Wednesday morning, Yameen said human resource development was vital to maintain a fast pace of economic development.

“With the economy developing at such a fast pace, there is no other choice for us but to develop human resources. It’s vital. Otherwise, we would have to again look for foreign employees for the new jobs that are created,” said Yameen.

Yameen said his administration prioritized creating employment opportunities for the youth. He said each and every airport that is opened created multiple employment opportunities. And every resort built with the establishment of airports in turn created more employment opportunities. He said those employment opportunities needed to go to the youth, and that such projects facilitated the administration’s efforts to empower the youth.

“The biggest challenge we face is training Maldivians for employment opportunities. And this challenge is not unique to the tourism industry alone,” said Yameen.

He said that just 94,000 new employment opportunities were not enough considering the number of young men and women in the community. He said more employment opportunities would be created as the economy expanded in the future.

Yameen said the people of Maldives wanted to move ahead with economic development, and not to complain over every little thing.

He said it was is aim to make the Maldivian economy the strongest in the region, in spite of its small size. He said he needed cooperation and support from the people of Maldives in order to make it happen.