The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has expressed optimism over securing further assistance from the World Bank to support the Maldives’ digitalisation project.
The Maldives is currently implementing a USD 10 million digitalisation project under World Bank’s assistance.
Speaking on PSM News' Raajje Miadhu programme, the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology’s Project Manager Dr Ibrahim Waheed said that seven important digitalisation projects are already underway with World Bank’s funding. These include the Government Computer System Expansion Project which aims to link local councils across the Maldives via a modern network system, the Communications Authority of Maldives' resource enhancement project, and research initiatives to collect environmental data.
Dr Ibrahim Waheed said the main objective of the government's digital transformation programme is to build a technology-literate society.
"We aim to create a society that is familiar with digital transformation, new innovations and technology. Our goal is to introduce technologies, train people to use them and utilise these technologies to obtain services,” Waheed said.
Dr Waheed also noted that project contracts were awarded to parties based on the quality of services they offer. These include companies from seven countries, including companies from the United Kingdom, Australian, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, he said.
Waheed said the funding for the initiatives currently underway have already been secured. He said discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to secure additional funds for the ‘Maldives 2.0’, a key part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision for the Maldives. The government is optimistic of securing the funding, he assured.
"The participation of trusted international parties in the Maldives 2.0 conference has strengthened prospects for securing additional funding. So far, the discussions with the World Bank have shown that there is a lot of potential for additional funding; we have received such an indication. If the current initiatives are executed successfully, there is a high chance of securing additional funding,” he said.
The government aims to complete the existing USD 10 million World Bank project by 2027. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the services provided by the National Center for Information Technology, Communications Authority of Maldives, Department of National Registration and Local Government Authority, the Ministry said.