The government has incorporated funding allocations in the proposed 2027 state budget to introduce smart identification cards and establish a National Sovereign Cloud Data Centre as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s “Maldives 2.0” digital governance blueprint.
Presenting the proposed MVR 59.7 billion budget to the People’s Majlis on Thursday, Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Hassan Zareer outlined that modernizing digital infrastructure remains a cornerstone of the administration’s strategy to curb corruption, increase institutional transparency, and accelerate public service delivery across dispersed island communities.
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The total outlay represents an overall contraction of MVR 4.5 billion compared to the 2026 budget, focusing on fiscal consolidation without raising taxes.
Minister Zareer stated that under the “Maldives 2.0” vision, public services are being aggressively digitized sector by sector, requiring centralized sovereign infrastructure to protect state databases and national digital assets.
“Under this vision, in addition to digitizing services delivered across specific sectors, this budget incorporates the establishment of a ‘National Sovereign Cloud Data Centre’ to safeguard the nation’s digital security,” Minister Zareer told lawmakers. “Furthermore, a modern ‘Digital Identification System’ or ‘Smart ID Card’ will be introduced to streamline access to public services.”
The physical smart cards and centralized sovereign cloud are intended to work in tandem with digital identity protocols, enabling verified, secure transactions between citizens, public agencies, and commercial entities without the logistical delays of physical paperwork.
To provide the statutory backing required for the digital overhaul, the government has already submitted two cornerstone bills to the People’s Majlis: the “Maldives 2.0 Digital Transformation Bill” and the “Digital Identity Bill”. The proposed legislation establishes institutional frameworks, including plans for a designated digital oversight body to enforce standards for inter-agency data interoperability, data privacy, and secure identity verification nationwide.
