Pres urges Maldivians to think beyond party lines, support national development plan

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday urged Maldivians to think beyond party lines, and join in the efforts to draft the Maldives’ national development plan for the next 20 years.

President Muizzu inaugurated the public consultation process for Maldives’ 20-year national development plan in a ceremony on Wednesday morning. The compilation of such a plan had been one of his electoral pledges.

Addressing the ceremony, President Muizzu stressed the need to prioritize the compilation of the national development plan. He urged people of all ages from all political interests and from islands across the country to take party in the endeavor.

“We want to develop this country. For the people to get wealthy,” he said.

President Muizzu said he wants to see the Maldives get ranked a developed nation by 2040 “in all sense of the word.”

He said that it is not an impossible task if everyone works together.

President Muizzu said his administration will consult with people from all walks of life in compiling the plan.

“[I ask that] people from all fields, as well as political parties, set aside their party interests and join in this,” he said.

“We are about to establish the vision for the future generation. This is not political.”

He thanked the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Australian government for their support towards the initiative.

President Muizzu said that when compiling the national development plan, the Maldives must also consider global technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how the country can progress in such fields.

He said that the plan must therefore accommodate the utilization of digital economy and AI.

“We must always treat sacrificing for our nation as a matter of pride,” he said.

The government aims to finalize the national development plan within one year. It has also announced it intends to add provisions to the constitution to support the plan.