The Addu Business Dialogue commenced with an urgent appeal for national unity as Mohamed Saeed, the Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, asserted that transcending political divisions is a prerequisite for national economic advancement. The economy can only be progressed when the nation speaks with a unified voice, Minister Saeed declared during the inauguration of the two-day summit at Hithadhoo School, Addu City.
The summit, organised by the economic development ministry and the Business Centre Corporation, serves to identify fundamental challenges obstructing the local economy and define Addu’s developmental trajectory over the next three years. This initiative executes a directive from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to provide targeted economic incentives between 2027 and 2029. President Muizzu envisions driving rapid growth by focusing on designated regions, with Addu City as the foundational starting point, Minister Saeed noted.
Senior officials from the ministries of homeland security, labour and technology; tourism and civil aviation; and fisheries, agriculture and ocean resources, alongside representatives from banking institutions, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, and Maldives Ports Limited, are participating in the 13-14 May event. Sessions are designed to evaluate the economic climate and propose sectors for financial incentives, tax relief, and new business frameworks.
"This initiative represents an accelerated developmental endeavour for Addu," Minister Saeed said, noting that findings regarding small and medium-sized enterprises will culminate in a Cabinet policy paper. "In their hearts, the citizens and business owners of Addu intimately understand the difficulties confronting the city. They recognise the existing hardships. They are aware of the challenges. They clearly see the obstacles. They must articulate the visible pathways to overcome these obstacles, hardships, and challenges to achieve progress."
The administration views these interventions as a pilot for a national strategy to achieve developed-nation status by 2040. Minister Saeed underscored that successful implementation requires collaboration between the City Council, state institutions, and business owners to secure land, labour, and financing. Progress, he argued, depends on this proactive mindset and collective action.