President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conferred the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (O.D.R.I) on Qasim Ibrahim, who previously received the Honour of the Order of the Dignified Rule of Muleege Dynasty (O.D.R.M.D). The esteemed national honour was presented at the official Independence Day ceremony held this morning.
Qasim Ibrahim is widely recognised as a pioneering figure in the Maldivian business sector. In 1976, at the age of 26, he laid the foundation for his business by mortgaging personal property and securing a loan of MVR 15,000. From these modest beginnings at the western section of the Thaa Atoll Store, he progressed steadily in the field of commerce.
He has remained at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, most notably through his support for Maldivians requiring medical treatment. Today, he is regarded as one of the country’s leading resort developers and a key contributor to the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His longstanding contributions to the nation’s education sector have also been particularly noteworthy.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Qasim Ibrahim has held senior roles within the Government of the Maldives. He served as Minister of Finance and Treasury under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and concurrently held the position of Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority. In these roles, he represented the Maldives as Governor to both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Qasim Ibrahim has also played a prominent role in the country's political and constitutional development. He was elected President of the Special Majlis during the constitutional reform process initiated under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s reform agenda. Under his leadership, the current Constitution of the Maldives was formulated and adopted.
In recognition of his extensive services to the nation, Qasim Ibrahim was awarded the Honour of the Order of the Dignified Rule of Muleege Dynasty (O.D.R.M.D) in 2013. He has also received the General Service Incentive Award in 1988 for contributions to national business development, the same award again in 1995 for services to tourism, and the National Award of Honour in 2007 for his notable contributions to the community.