President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says the government’s long-awaited National Development Master Plan is nearing completion, with the blueprint expected to guide equitable development across the Maldives and support the country’s long-term economic ambitions.
Speaking on PSM News’ “Nation Chat” podcast, the President said the first draft of the master plan has been largely completed and is expected to undergo consultations with stakeholders before its official launch later this year.
According to President Muizzu, the government plans to hold a validation workshop involving representatives from different sectors to review the draft before finalising and unveiling the document, which is targeted for completion by November.
The President said the master plan is designed to ensure balanced development across the country rather than concentrating investment in the Greater Malé region.
“Our policy is to ensure equitable development throughout the Maldives by strengthening every region of the country,” he said, adding that decentralisation remains one of the administration’s core priorities.
Highlighting the government’s development agenda, President Muizzu said 590 projects have been completed during the administration’s first two years and eight months in office.
He contrasted the figure with previous administrations, stating that 285 projects were completed during the corresponding period under the previous government, while the administration before that completed 321 projects.
The President also said work is currently underway on 1,635 development projects nationwide, significantly more than the 414 and 355 projects that were under implementation during the equivalent periods of the two preceding administrations.
According to the President, ongoing projects are being carried out under a structured implementation plan that considers budget availability, cash flow management, existing debt obligations and financing requirements.
He pointed to several nationwide initiatives that are currently in progress, including the construction of children’s parks, outdoor gyms, fitness and recreation centres, and waste management facilities across inhabited islands.
President Muizzu said these projects form part of a broader effort to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the Maldives and are expected to be completed before 26 July 2028.
The President noted that many of the projects highlighted during his recent Independence Day address were intended to demonstrate the scale of development taking place across the country and ensure that citizens in every region benefit from national progress.
He added that many of the pledges contained in the administration’s manifesto have already been incorporated into the National Development Master Plan, which will serve as a roadmap for the country’s future development.
Looking beyond infrastructure, President Muizzu said the government aims to use the master plan to accelerate economic growth, with the broader objective of increasing the Maldives’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and achieving developed-country status by 2040.
The National Development Master Plan is expected to become the government’s principal long-term planning framework, guiding infrastructure investment, regional development and public policy across multiple sectors over the coming years.
