President: Financial self-sufficiency of local communities a key goal

The boost in local tourism in Maldives requires policies to further increase the financial  self-sufficiency of local island communities, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking during the inauguration of the web portal for island councils, islands.mv, which was held at Schwack Cinema in Hulhumale’ last Monday night, Solih said that increasing financial  self-sufficiency of local communities was a key goal towards achievement of his vision for “island-nation development” to Maldives.

“Financial self-sufficiency alongside management efficiency is one of our policies. And as local tourism develops in Maldives, we need to engage in action to promote this,” said Solih.

The President said that his administration’s policy was to empower local councils with the authority to manage the local communities they are responsible for, and to grant local councils with the authority to support local businesses operating in the respective communities with autonomy over issuance of resources and other opportunities to promote trade.

“With the establishment of the islands.mv portal, we leave it councils to share and promote information regarding local communities,” said Solih.

He said that islands.mv is designed not just for the use of tourists, but for the use of Maldivians as well.

Information which will be available via islands.mv includes modes of transport to-and-from local islands, transport schedules, and information on significant monuments and locations of historical and environmental significance.

Islands.mv was developed by National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) – a center run under the charge of Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology.