The Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, has stated that the internal data exchange layer designed to validate documents shared between government agencies will be finalised and fully established by the end of 2026.
Speaking at the Addu Business Dialogue, Minister Ihusaan outlined a series of reforms being introduced to improve services provided by the Ministry to the business community.
He noted that the e-government system, intended to facilitate communication between government agencies, is scheduled for completion by August this year, with a dedicated platform set to be launched in June. He emphasised that the introduction of the data exchange layer represents a significant development that will deliver tangible benefits to businesses.
“This means that certificates and licences issued by agencies can be submitted directly by those agencies. Once a request is made, information will be exchanged systematically between institutions. This will eliminate the need for customer submissions, as documents can be independently verified through the system,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted progress under the government’s broader digitalisation agenda, providing a clear timeline for implementation. The goal is to complete the digital transformation by June 2028, at which point all government services are expected to be fully paperless.
Minister Ihusaan stressed the importance of robust security measures as state systems become increasingly digital. He noted that just last year, cyberattacks disrupted operations at four major businesses in the Maldives.
“Ransomware attacks have brought entire businesses to a standstill. We have reached a point where secondary data backups are essential. Cybersecurity standards and dedicated agencies must be established, alongside a comprehensive security framework. This will allow us to create a safer digital environment,” he said.
Maldives 2.0, a national digitalisation initiative launched by Mohamed Muizzu, aims to modernise government services in line with public needs. Minister Ihusaan affirmed that the project will be fully implemented with adjustments informed by international best practices, while remaining tailored to the local context.