Today, the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the World Bank have signed a financing agreement for the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification Project. The agreement, worth SDR 7,300,000 (equivalent to US$10,000,000 or MVR 154,200,000), aims to improve the competitiveness of the broadband market, enhance identification for in-person and online service delivery, and leverage digital technologies, data, and analytics for climate resilience.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Ibrahim Ameer, signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldives government, while Mr. Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, signed on behalf of the Bank. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology also attended the ceremony.

The Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization, and Diversification Project will strengthen the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for broadband internet connectivity and infrastructure, data governance, and the digital economy. This includes boosting the capacity of the Communication Authority of Maldives and the National Centre for Information Technology to improve Internet connectivity for people, businesses, and government across islands.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology will implement the project. This agreement is a significant step towards enhancing the digital infrastructure of the Maldives and achieving its long-term sustainable development goals.