President Muizzu Reaffirms Youth Empowerment as a Top Government Priority

News

MALE', Maldives – President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed that youth empowerment remains one of the Administration's highest priorities, expressing confidence that ongoing initiatives will address existing challenges and deliver meaningful opportunities for young people across the Maldives.

The President made the remarks during the fifth episode of The Pulse, the President's Office podcast series, which focused on youth empowerment and provided a platform to address concerns raised by the country's youth.

Describing young people as key partners in nation-building, President Dr Muizzu highlighted a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening economic and educational opportunities. He also outlined the Administration's efforts to expand sports infrastructure nationwide, stating that the projects extend beyond Malé and are progressing across the atolls. He said the Government expects the developments to be completed by the first quarter of 2028.

Addressing mental health, the President acknowledged the close connection between well-being and life circumstances, noting that comprehensive measures are being implemented to enhance mental health support services for young people.

On economic empowerment, President Dr Muizzu detailed Government programmes designed to encourage greater youth participation in the private sector and create sustainable sources of income. These include loan schemes to promote youth entrepreneurship and initiatives to remove barriers to professional development. He also stressed the importance of addressing the challenges posed by undocumented expatriate workers, calling for a collective national effort to resolve the issue.

The President further reiterated the Administration's goal of increasing the creative economy's contribution to at least 15 per cent of the Maldives' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, outlining ongoing efforts to achieve the target.

Concluding the episode, President Dr Muizzu said the Administration's guiding philosophy is to empower citizens and create pathways to prosperity. He added that work on a long-term solution to the issue of undocumented expatriates is nearing completion and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to prioritising Maldivians in employment and entrepreneurship, supporting local talent, and ensuring graduates enter the workforce equipped with strong academic or vocational qualifications.

The episode featured Hawwa Shifla, Senior Journalist at Eki Online, as the invited journalist.