President Muizzu Meets Development Partners and International Delegates During Independence Day Celebrations

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu held a series of high-level meetings with international partners and dignitaries on Saturday afternoon at the President’s Office, as part of the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations and the inauguration of the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA).

Among those who paid courtesy calls on the President were Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID); Mr Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshid (O.D.R.M.D), Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD); Mr Waleed Shamlan Al-Bahar, Acting Director-General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development; and Her Excellency Ikuina Akiko, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

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President Muizzu welcomed each delegation warmly, expressing his gratitude for their participation in the Independence Day events and their attendance at the VIA terminal inauguration. He also conveyed appreciation for their nations’ longstanding contributions to the Maldives’ development efforts.

During his meeting with Dr Alkhalifa, the President thanked OFID for its continued support, particularly in the airport development project. They discussed future collaboration in areas such as climate change adaptation, renewable energy, water and sanitation, and infrastructure development. Dr Alkhalifa reaffirmed OFID’s commitment to further strengthening its nearly five-decade-long partnership with the Maldives.

In discussions with Mr Al-Murshid, the President acknowledged the Saudi Fund for Development’s key role in the airport project and broader development initiatives. The SFD CEO highlighted the Saudi Royal Court’s close interest in the project’s progress. Talks also explored cooperation in housing, fisheries, and the health sector.

With Mr Al-Bahar of the Kuwait Fund, the President expressed deep appreciation for the Fund’s long-standing support and engagement in national development. Both parties discussed expanding cooperation in economic development, healthcare, renewable energy, and fisheries.

In his meeting with Special Envoy Ikuina Akiko, President Muizzu reflected on more than five decades of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Japan. They discussed enhancing collaboration in infrastructure, disaster resilience, telecommunications, and capacity-building. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and pursuing shared development goals.