Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has accused the government of prioritizing state entry into private‑sector businesses, warning that the approach will create new obstacles for Maldivian entrepreneurs.
Ameer’s remarks came after the Presidential Statement was delivered at the opening of this year’s Parliament session on Thursday.
In the statement, the President announced that the government would develop at least 10 resorts within the next three years, make every Maldivian a shareholder, and begin depositing foreign currency into citizens’ accounts. Returns on these investments are expected from 2030.
Responding on X, Ameer said the statement revealed a worrying shift in policy direction. He argued that the government’s focus had moved away from creating a healthy business environment and toward directly competing with private enterprises.
Ameer wrote that the administration’s responsibility is to regulate, facilitate, and ensure a fair and enabling environment for businesses, not to run commercial ventures itself. He said the government should be building systems that support capital formation, encourage investment, and strengthen private‑sector growth, rather than entering every industry.
މިއަދުގެ ރިޔާސީ ބަޔާން ބޮޑަށް ވައްތަރީ ރައީސަކު އިއްވި ބާޔާނަކަށްވުރެ ދިމްޔާތު ކުންފުނީގެ ވެރިޔަކު ބޯޑު މެމްބަރުންނަށް އިއްވި އަހަރީ ރިޕޯޓަކާ. ގޮނޑިކޮއްކޮ މަޖްލިހަކަށް އިއްވި ރިޔާސީ ބަޔާނުން އެނގިގެން ދިޔައީ، ކުރިޔަށް ހުރި އަހަރުތަކުގައި ރާއްޖޭގެ އަމިއްލަ ވިޔަފާރިވެެރިންނަށް…
— Ibrahim Ameer ???????? (@iameeru) February 5, 2026
He added that Maldives reached global prominence in tourism through private investment, not government‑run ventures, and warned that expanding state involvement would undermine the sector’s success.
Ameer also noted that the government has already entered areas such as taxi services, and said the broader pattern shows an intention to expand into “all business sectors,” which he described as a harmful and misguided policy.
He stressed that while private individuals have historically succeeded in tourism, government attempts have not delivered similar results.