Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu Hai Yien, underscored the shared climate vulnerabilities of Singapore and the Maldives on Monday, calling for deeper collaboration on environmental resilience and expanded investment ties.
Speaking at the Maldives–Singapore Business Forum, held in conjunction with the official visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Minister Fu remarked that both nations, as low-lying island states, face acute exposure to climate change impacts. She highlighted their dependence on imported food supplies and limited natural resources, adding that Singapore and the Maldives have long advocated jointly on international platforms to address these common threats.
In her address, Minister Fu encouraged Singaporean businesses to explore commercial opportunities in the Maldives, noting that around 50 Maldivian enterprises already operate in Singapore: evidence, she said, of a solid foundation for expanded cross-border investment.
She went on to highlight Singapore's global standing in urban planning, infrastructure development, and digital services, identifying these areas as especially aligned with the Maldives' national development priorities. Stronger cooperation in sustainability, economic policy and innovation, she added, would serve the long-term interests of both countries.
The forum's agenda reflected both a shared interest in policy dialogue and a growing diplomatic rapport, as underscored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, which welcomed the engagement and expressed confidence in its potential to foster lasting partnerships. The ministry described such initiatives as pivotal to attracting foreign capital, driving sectoral expansion and supporting economic diversification.
That sentiment aligns with the Maldives' broader outreach strategy, under which the current administration convenes targeted investment forums abroad to secure international support for national development plans. The partnership with Singapore, government officials noted, stands as a cornerstone of that effort, one rooted in common priorities and regional cooperation.