Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has stated that maintaining Government expenditure within the approved budget, without incurring additional debt or seeking a supplementary budget, is an achievement that deserves greater recognition than the recent change to the Maldives’ Fitch rating. He made the remarks during today’s session of the Presser with the Spox series while responding to questions from journalists regarding the country’s financial and economic situation.
The Spokesperson noted that while the change in the Fitch rating was not a major shift, it was nevertheless a positive development that could improve the perception of the Maldives among financial institutions and development partners. However, he added that an even greater achievement would be a further improvement in the country’s rating, which would help attract more investment to the Maldives and bring positive changes to the lives of citizens.
The Spokesperson further highlighted that Government expenditure had been maintained within the approved budget through the implementation of prudent fiscal policies. These included reforms to the tax system, expenditure control measures, and efforts to align projected budget revenue with actual revenue collection. He noted that although such measures may not always be popular, they demonstrate the Government’s commitment to placing national interests above political considerations and reflect responsible leadership.
Referring to the Government’s long-term policy objectives, he spoke about plans to restrict access to certain social media applications for children under the age of 16 and the policy to establish a State Pharma. He said the social media restrictions would be implemented following extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders. He added that the State Pharma would provide a comprehensive solution to long-standing challenges relating to medicines and medical consumables that successive governments had been unable to resolve.
The Spokesperson reiterated that these measures are being undertaken not with a view to securing electoral advantage, but to safeguard the nation’s long-term interests and future well-being.
Today’s session marked the fifth edition of the Presser with the Spox series.