Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has said that keeping state expenditure within the approved budget, without incurring additional debt is a bigger achievement than the recent Fitch rating upgrade.
He made the statement while speaking on the latest session of the Presser with the Spox series.
The Spokesperson described the Fitch rating, although not a major change, as a positive development. He said a higher rating would further improve investment opportunities and economic perception of the Maldives. However, an even bigger achievement would be further upgrades to the rating, bringing about even more investments and positive changes to the peoples’ lives, he said.
The Spokesperson said the Maldives’ fiscal discipline deserves recognition even more than the credit rating upgrade. He credited tax system reforms, expenditure control, and better alignment of projected and actual revenue to the achievement, describing them as responsible but often unpopular measures undertaken strategically by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Further noting that the government prioritises long-term national interest over short-term political gains, the Spokesperson shared plans to consult stakeholders on a proposed ban on certain social media apps for children under 16.
He also spoke on challenges in obtaining medicine, noting that establishing a State Pharma system could help solve long-standing issues in medicine and medical supply procurement. He emphasised that such policies are aimed at long-term national development rather than electoral advantage.