The government is undertaking the full digitalisation of state functions to modernise governance and eradicate corruption, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday about 'Maldives 2.0', a transformative initiative aimed at overhauling state functions through digitalisation, he asserted that technological reforms would play a decisive role in eradicating corrupt practices and reinforcing transparency across government institutions.
President Muizzu framed digitalisation as a critical step in strengthening governance efficiency, underscoring the need for automated systems to reduce vulnerabilities to corruption. 'This digital system will enhance the efficiency of governance," he stated. "The objective [of this project] is to eradicate corruption and implement a framework for transparent and streamlined administration."
With the 'Maldives 2.0' initiative set to unfold over the next three years, the administration aims to fully digitalise state operations. The president pointed to Estonia's governance model as a key inspiration, citing its success in eliminating corruption and achieving high rankings on global transparency indices as a major influence on his policy direction. He also noted Estonia's advanced inter-governmental system and its recognition for having the second-highest press freedom globally.
The plan lays the groundwork for a comprehensive shift in state infrastructure, introducing reforms tailored to digital governance. Among its objectives are the modernisation of ICT systems, the establishment of a legal framework suited to the digital age, and improvements in public service delivery. It also prioritises national cybersecurity resilience and advocates a transition to an open-data model, ensuring secure digital identities for trusted transactions.
As the administration prepares to turn strategy into implementation, President Muizzu revealed that a high-profile conference will be held on 9 May to serve as the formal launch of the initiative. He announced that the event would convene key stakeholders to outline the framework and operational strategy for the transition, marking the beginning of the three-year effort to embed digital governance at the core of state administration.