The Maldives has opened the doors to more than 50 high-impact development projects for foreign investment, marking a new chapter in its effort to accelerate national development through international partnerships. The announcement was made during the Maldives–Malaysia Business Forum 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s official visit to Malaysia.
The forum, attended by a wide network of Malaysian investors and business leaders, offered a diverse portfolio of 52 investment-ready projects. These span key sectors including tourism, airport development, health, higher education, marine and fisheries development, energy, ICT, the creative economy, sports, and banking and finance.
In addition to core infrastructure projects, several flagship initiatives outlined in President Dr Muizzu’s manifesto were presented to potential investors. These include the development of a national tourism training centre, a medical school with a teaching hospital, a faculty of agriculture and food sciences, a national arts school, a fisheries college, and projects focused on medical tourism and sport fishing.
Speaking to PSM News at the forum, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, emphasized the administration’s commitment to transparent and structured investment processes. “For each project, investors will receive clear information: the investment scale, timeline, financing partners, and project goals. This level of clarity is a major difference in our approach,” said Minister Saeed.
He noted that the Maldives is offering various investment models, including direct foreign investment, public-private partnerships, and government joint ventures. The forum builds on a series of similar business engagements led by President Dr Muizzu in countries such as India, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Plans are underway to host more forums in other strategic locations.
Minister Saeed reiterated the government’s long-term development roadmap, which aims to position the Maldives as a developed nation by 2040. “Private sector growth is vital to achieving this goal,” he said. He also highlighted the Foreign Investment Act passed in December 2024, which provides enhanced legal protections and transparency mechanisms to encourage investor confidence.
Speaking at the opening of the forum, Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, welcomed the initiative and acknowledged the rising trade volume between the two countries, which grew by 4 percent in 2024. He also pointed out new opportunities for Maldivian investors in Malaysia’s halal food production sector and noted the increasing presence of Malaysian brands in the Maldivian market.
“The forum is a valuable platform to deepen commercial ties and create long-term cooperation between our business communities,” Tengku Zafrul added.
The Maldives–Malaysia Business Forum 2025 represents the latest step in strengthening trade and investment relations between the two nations. It reflects the Maldives’ growing focus on creating a diversified economy with sustainable, globally connected industries, underpinned by transparency, innovation, and long-term vision.
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