President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that this Government will proceed with public consultation and will stand 100 per cent with the people. He made these remarks whilst speaking at the official reception to commemorate one year in office.
Speaking at the Maldives Centre for Social Education (MCSE) tonight, President Dr Muizzu detailed the Government's proposed solutions to the dollar issue. He noted that currently only 1.5 per cent of tourism sector revenue is being converted to banks. To address this, he said that with new MMA regulation changes, it is expected that 20 per cent of dollars will be converted to banks starting from January. As a result of these strategic efforts, Government companies will be able to access dollars at bank rates. He further announced that by the first quarter of 2026, travellers will have the opportunity to purchase up to USD 1,000 at bank rates, whilst credit card limits would be increased to USD 1,400. Starting from July, the Government will increase the dollar allocation for TT (Telegraphic Transfer) through banks for local businesses importing goods.
The President also highlighted one of the Administration's key priorities—addressing illegal immigration. When the Government took office, the number of illegal immigrants was unknown, but with efforts taken to address this issue, he noted that 5,012 expatriates have been repatriated, surpassing the number deported in the previous three years combined. The Government has now brought all relevant institutions under one umbrella to address issues of illegal immigration, gang crimes and drug-related problems.
Speaking about measures taken to address social issues, the President noted that dangerous road incidents have decreased by 33 per cent, whilst drug seizures have increased by 61 per cent compared with the previous year.
Regarding healthcare, the President highlighted efforts to reduce wastage in the Aasandha system. He mentioned that the Government has begun controlling prices by importing high-quality medicines through bulk procurement, adding that they will establish and maintain a central procurement system for medicines and consumables.
Furthermore, the President shared initiatives taken under his leadership to ban vaping and create a tobacco-free generation. He called upon doctors and relevant experts to support public awareness efforts and help build a tobacco-free society.
