Hamdhoon Abdull Hameed, who served as minister of planning and development during former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration, has been appointed for a minister-level advisory role at the Finance and Planning Ministry.
An official from the Finance Ministry confirmed to Sun on Tuesday that Hamdhoon was appointed as an advisor for national planning work carried out by the ministry.
Hamdhoon, the son of former minister and Parliament speaker Abdulla Hameed, had served as minister of planning and development during the administration of his uncle, Maumoon. He also served as a parliamentarian, and as an ambassador during the administration of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who is also his uncle.
The Finance Ministry hasn’t disclosed exactly when Hamdhoon, who has a BA in Economics from the University of Beirut, was appointed to his new role, or details regarding his pay.
Hamdhoon Abdull Hameed (R) shakes hands with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at the inauguration of public consultation process for the 20-year national development plan on November 6, 2024. (Photo/President's Office)
The appointment comes as the Finance Ministry works on formulating a 20-year national development plan announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu back in September 2024. The public consultation process for the plan was inaugurated a month later, on November 6. Nexia Maldives, the private consultancy firm hired by the Finance Ministry for the task, has said it expects to wrap up meetings with various stakeholders and formulate a plan around-mid January next year.
 
According to the President’s Office, the 20-year national development plan seeks to guide economic, social, environmental and urban development across the Maldives over the next 20 years.
National planning had previously fallen under the mandate of the Housing Ministry. But in a major cabinet reshuffle in December 2024, planning was transferred to the mandate of the Finance Ministry, and the Housing Ministry merged with the Infrastructure Ministry.