Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has said that citizens must know how to use new technologies safely and effectively for the Maldives to progress.
He made the remarks at the launch of the ‘Digital for All’ campaign, an initiative aimed at implementing the goals of the government’s Maldives 2.0 digital transformation roadmap.
The campaign seeks to build digitally aware, skilled, responsible and productive citizens who can benefit from national digital systems, infrastructure and services. Ihusaan likened the initiative to the national basic education programme introduced in the 1970s to improve literacy, describing it as an effort to equip the population with the digital skills needed for the future.
The minister said artificial intelligence and digital technology have transformed how people live, work, communicate and access services. He noted that businesses across sectors are increasingly adopting digital tools, while government services and systems are also becoming increasingly digitalised.
Ihusaan said national progress would depend not only on infrastructure but also on citizens possessing digital ethics, trust and practical skills to use emerging technologies safely and productively.
He said the government could establish connectivity, digital payment systems and online platforms, but the benefits of these investments would be limited if citizens lacked the confidence and skills to use them effectively.
The minister said the ‘Digital for All’ campaign would serve as a national capacity-building initiative rather than a standalone campaign. The programme is expected to reach all atolls over the next three years.
He called on state institutions, businesses, the private sector, councils, Women’s Development Committees, NGOs, senior citizens’ associations and international partners to support and participate in the initiative.
The campaign forms part of the Maldives 2.0 vision of building a digital-first nation where citizens’ access to opportunities is not limited by the island they live on.
