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Monday 23 Dec 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih addresses a campaign rally in Sh. Milandhoo on July 31, 2023. (Photo/MDP)
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih states he will complete Maldives’ debt repayments if elected for a second term.
He made the remark during a campaign rally in Sh. Milandhoo on Monday.
Addressing the rally, the president said it had been because of the establishment of peace and stability that his administration was able to run its development projects during the current five-year term.
He said that if elected for a second term, he will complete the repayment of the country’s debts.
“How were we able to make this great change? This is something we must give deep thought to,” he said.
The president said that the main reason for the change was that his administration had brought an end to instability, and worked to achieve peace and development.
“As these five years end, no one was arrested for a political purpose. No reporter was jailed. We didn’t have to announce a state of emergency. But the development projects are running at full speed,” he said.
The president said that his goal for a second term is to effect positive economic changes and double the country’s economy.
He said that the Maldivian economy, which stood at MVR 81 billion when he assumed office in 2018, has risen to MVR 108 billion at the end of his current term.
The president said that his administration had been taking loans to invest in big development projects, and that the state will have enough funds to repay the loans by 2026.
“After 2026, the state will have enough funds to repay loans. In Sha Allah, my second term will end without the next administration needing to repay the loans,” he said.
The president said that his administration had worked to strengthen the countries transport network to ease the flow of people and cargo, which he said was crucial to economic development.
He said that once the project to develop the Velana International Airport is complete in 2025, it will be able to process 7 million tourists per annum.
“The great change we are bringing is a holistic economic approach, as I mentioned before. When I say that the Maldivian economy will double – this is something that the numbers show,” he said.
The president said the great change his administration is bringing to Maldives is reflected in Sh. Atoll.
He said he predicts a landslide victory for his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) from the Bodu Thiladhunmathi region.
He said that his administration had run many projects that previous administrations had not.
“It is you who will decide in the upcoming presidential election,” he said.
He made several pledges for Milandhoo for his second term. This includes:
