President: UN dialogue provided key chance to boost Maldives’ digital economy

The opportunity for Maldives to co-chair the Summit of the Future’s interactive dialogue on a common digital future offered a crucial chance for Maldives to boost its digital economy and expand digitalization, says President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

On Monday, President Muizzu co-chaired the Summit of the Future's ‘Interactive Dialogue 3: Towards a Common Digital Future’, an event held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

In a video message after the event, President Muizzu described it as an important dialogue that provided Maldives with the opportunity to boost its digital economy and expand digitalization.

“…This was an important opportunity for us to promote this key policy and a chance for Maldives to gain recognition in the international arena. In Sha Allah, this will produce positive results,” he added.

ސަމިޓް އޮފް ދަ ފިއުޗަރ "އިންޓަރެކްޓިވް ޑައެލޮގް 3؛ ޓުވަރޑްސް އަ ކޮމަން ޑިޖިޓަލް ފިއުޗަރ"ގެ ކޯ-ޗެއަރގެ ޙައިސިއްޔަތުން، ރިޔާސަތު ބެލެހެއްޓުމުގެ ފުރުޞަތު ރާއްޖެއަށް ލިބުމުން، ރާއްޖޭގައި ޑިޖިޓަލް އިކޮނޮމީ ކުރިއަރުވައި، ޑިޖިޓަލައިޒޭޝަން ފުޅާކުރުމުގެ މަގު އިތުރަށް ފަހިވެއްޖެ -… pic.twitter.com/08s9BH3m8b

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) September 23, 2024

President Muizzu said it also provided the opportunity to support Maldivians, especially the country’s youth, to expand digitalization.

It also provided an opportunity to network and foster close ties with key international stakeholders.

President Muizzu co-chaired Monday’s dialogue with Estonia’s President Alar Karis.

In his remarks, President Muizzu highlighted that one-third of the global population lacks internet access, particularly in developing countries, hindering development and justice.

He made three key suggestions:

• Empowering youth: He urged initiatives to empower young people in the digital economy and emphasized investing in digital skills and re-skilling to drive local innovation and economic diversification.
• Building digital infrastructure: He stressed the importance of building digital infrastructure to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting that the Maldives' National Centre for Information Technology is already working on this.
• Safeguarding rights: He emphasized the need to protect consumer rights in digitalization, addressing challenges like unauthorized access and data privacy. He noted that Maldives has established the National Cybersecurity Agency to tackle these concerns.

President Muizzu concluded his remarks by reaffirming the Maldives' commitment to creating an inclusive, resilient, and just digital world, emphasizing the importance of harnessing the digital revolution for a common future.