President Mohamed Nasheed has today met with the United States Ambassador to the Maldives, Ms Patricia Butenis.
At the meeting held today at the President’s Office, the President updated Ambassador Butenis on the government’s economic reform programme.
Speaking in this regard, the President informed the Ambassador on the new tax regime proposed by the government to increase government income and build sustainable revenue streams for the state.
The president indicated that these reforms will double the state’s revenue that would allow the government to improve the standard of public services.
He also expressed the government’s confidence that the people were receptive to and understanding of the need for the proposed measures including new taxes.
At the meeting, Ambassador Butenis congratulated the government the appointment of Dr Ahmed Shaheed, the Foreign Policy Advisor of the President, as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, hailing Dr Shaheed’s appointment as an opportunity for the Maldivian leadership to shine in the international arena.
Further, the President and the US Ambassador discussed regional issues and issues of mutual interest as well as the preparations for the SAARC summit to be held in the Maldives this year.
