Curtain Raiser for India AI Impact Summit 2026 Held in Malé

The High Commission of India in Malé hosted a Curtain Raiser event for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on 13 January, bringing together senior officials, policymakers, technology experts, academics, start-ups, and members of the business and media community.

The event outlined India’s vision and priorities for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 February, with a focus on the responsible, inclusive and ethical development of artificial intelligence. Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology, Dr Mohamed Kinaanath, attended as the Guest of Honour.

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In his remarks, Minister Kinaanath said the Maldives has actively participated in the Working Group (Chakras) meetings leading up to the summit, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in building an inclusive and innovative AI ecosystem. He called for a united approach to AI development and outlined the Maldives’ ongoing and planned initiatives, including the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (AI RAM) and the National Digital Transformation Vision – Maldives 2.0.

The Indian High Commissioner, G. Balasubramanian highlighted the transformative potential of AI across key sectors such as governance, healthcare, education, climate resilience, financial inclusion and digital public infrastructure. The address also emphasised the role of international cooperation, knowledge-sharing and human-centric innovation in shaping future AI ecosystems.

The Indian High Commission said Curtain Raiser also detailed the summit programme and underscored the growing partnership between India and the Maldives in digital infrastructure and technology, including practical cooperation in UPI, RuPay and other fintech platforms.

The event concluded with a press conference and open-house discussions, which generated interest among Maldivian stakeholders in engaging with the India AI Impact Summit 2026.