President Muizzu Commends UNDP’s Pivotal Role in Maldives’ Development at 45th Anniversary Event

President His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has lauded the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its critical contributions to the Maldives’ development trajectory over the past 45 years. Speaking at a ceremony held on Thursday to commemorate the milestone, President Muizzu emphasized the enduring partnership between the Maldives and the UNDP, underscoring its significance in addressing the nation’s challenges and aspirations.

The event, attended by cabinet members and key representatives of the UNDP, marked a major milestone in the Maldives-UNDP relationship, which has been instrumental in shaping the country’s progress since the establishment of UNDP’s country office in 1978.

In his address, President Muizzu highlighted the Maldives’ transformation from one of the least economically developed nations to a modern, resilient, and forward-looking country, attributing much of this success to the collaboration with UNDP. He noted that the partnership is built on shared values of progress, development, and human dignity, with a commitment to sustainable development.

“Since UNDP opened its office in the Maldives, it has played a crucial role in our sustainable development journey. Its expert support was vital in helping the Maldives graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2011,” President Muizzu stated.

He went on to highlight UNDP’s expanding focus over the years, noting that its work now extends beyond basic development needs to initiatives such as climate resilience, economic diversification, social inclusion, women’s empowerment, good governance, and institutional reform.

“Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated achievements, and forged a path towards a brighter future for our nation, even amidst the complexities of a rapidly changing world,” he said.

Looking towards the future, President Muizzu outlined his administration’s goal of transforming the Maldives into a fully developed nation by 2040, with a strong emphasis on the digital economy and sustainable development. He expressed confidence in UNDP’s continued support in achieving these objectives and acknowledged its role in developing the Maldives’ twenty-year development plan and the Government’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP), which are currently in progress.

“We are grateful for UNDP’s assistance in these crucial initiatives, and we look forward to its continued partnership as we work towards a prosperous future for the Maldives,” President Muizzu concluded.

The President extended his gratitude to the United Nations for its unwavering support over the past four decades, emphasizing the importance of the Maldives-UNDP partnership in advancing national development goals.