The Maldives has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee of the United Nations General Assembly for its 81st session, in elections held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The appointment marks an important diplomatic achievement for the Maldives and reflects the country’s growing profile and constructive engagement within the multilateral system. It also signals the strong confidence placed by the international community in the Maldives’ capacity to contribute meaningfully to global discussions on economic development, sustainability, and international cooperation.
The Maldives will be represented on the bureau of the committee by Hussain Azhaan Mohamed Hussain, Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United Nations. In this role, the Maldives will work closely with the Chair and other bureau members to support the effective and orderly conduct of the committee’s work throughout the 81st session of the General Assembly, which will run from September 2026 to September 2027. Through this position, the Maldives will contribute to facilitating dialogue, supporting consensus-building, and advancing the committee’s responsibilities during a significant period for the international development agenda.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the election reflects the continued international confidence in the Maldives’ active and principled engagement at the United Nations. The appointment comes at a time when the Maldives has intensified its advocacy for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while also calling for stronger and more responsive global development financing frameworks. The country has consistently emphasized the importance of ensuring that the priorities and vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States are properly recognized and effectively integrated into international policymaking and multilateral processes.
The Economic and Financial Committee, also known as the Second Committee, is one of the six main committees of the United Nations General Assembly. It is responsible for considering a broad range of matters related to sustainable development, economic growth, macroeconomic policy, financing for development, poverty eradication, and the broader international development framework. As part of its institutional responsibilities, the bureau helps manage proceedings, coordinate the work of the committee, and support guidance on the conduct of its activities. Serving on the bureau therefore places the Maldives in a valuable position to contribute to the efficiency and substance of one of the General Assembly’s most important platforms for development-related deliberations.
The Maldives’ election to this role further reinforces the country’s reputation as a credible and engaged voice in international affairs. In recent years, the Maldives has continued to advocate strongly for equitable development, climate resilience, financial accessibility for vulnerable states, and inclusive multilateral cooperation. Its participation in the bureau of the Second Committee is expected to provide an important opportunity to further amplify these priorities while contributing positively to the broader work of the United Nations.
For global audiences, the election highlights the growing diplomatic relevance of small island nations in shaping international conversations on finance, sustainability, and development. For the Maldives, it represents both recognition of past engagement and a meaningful platform to support solutions to shared global challenges. The country’s unanimous election to the Vice-Chair position underscores its steady commitment to constructive diplomacy and its continued readiness to contribute to international efforts aimed at building a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future.
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