The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has inaugurated the MMA Research Conference 2025 at Villa Nautica – Paradise Island, marking the strongest turnout in the event’s history. The two-day conference, held on 16–17 November, has drawn over 240 participants, more than double last year’s attendance, reflecting a growing national and international interest in evidence-based economic policymaking.
At this year’s conference, MMA introduced a new economic and financial magazine called ‘The Island Economist.’ The magazine was launched by the conference’s guest of honor, Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu. Additionally, MMA launched its research journal, the ‘Maldives Journal of Economics and Finance.’ This journal was launched by Dr. Aishath Muneeza, Professor and Associate Dean at INCEIF University, Malaysia. During the conference, awards and cash prizes were presented to the finalists of the Tamweel Fintech Festival 2025 competitions.
The main conference follows the successful Tamweel FinLit Fest, a pre-conference programme that brought together 140 participants, most of them school students, to strengthen financial literacy and youth engagement in economic thinking.
This year’s event also marks a significant expansion in academic contributions. The conference features around 40 paper presenters, including over 20 international researchers, further deepening global collaboration. The MMA additionally received 39 proposals for Research Funds and 20 submissions for the upcoming MMA Magazine, signaling a notable rise in research activity across key policy areas.
The 2025 conference centres on two overarching themes. The first — “Reshaping Policy for a Resilient Maldives: Innovation, Stability, and Inclusive Growth” — underscores the nation’s need to adapt to climate vulnerabilities, global economic shifts, and accelerating technological changes. Speakers highlighted that resilience is increasingly linked to innovation and forward-thinking policy design aimed at building a stable and inclusive economic environment.
The second theme — “Harnessing the Potential of Islamic Finance to Address Economic Challenges and Social Inequality” — explores how Islamic Social Finance can advance equitable development. Discussions will examine the role of instruments such as zakat, waqf, and qard al-hasan in supporting underserved communities and addressing structural inequalities, while contributing to more sustainable economic growth.
Later this afternoon, two high-level panel discussions will take place: “Charting New Frontiers: Rethinking Economic Growth Beyond Tourism” and “Beyond Banking: Islamic Social Finance as a Tool for Social Transformation.” These sessions will bring together diverse perspectives on how the Maldives can diversify its economy and leverage Islamic Finance to strengthen social well-being.
Supported by a wide network of academic and industry partners, the MMA Research Conference 2025 continues to serve as a leading platform for policy dialogue, research collaboration, and innovative thinking. With record participation and an expanded research agenda, this year’s conference reaffirms the Maldives’ commitment to shaping a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economic landscape.
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Ali Adhil
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