President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the government’s current objective is to restart the economy following the extended lockdown of the capital area due to a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. Speaking to the press this afternoon, broadcast live, President Solih stated that the government acknowledges that long-term preparations for Covid-19 are required and are being undertaken accordingly while working to restart the economy under safety guidelines.
President Solih revealed that the government places great importance on the resumption of businesses as an integral part of the Maldives’ economy. He announced that beginning July 1, 2021, Covid-19 curfew hours in the Greater Malé region would be from 08.00 p.m. to 04.00 a.m. All businesses would be allowed to resume operations and provision of services during non-curfew hours, including restaurant dine-in services, gyms and salons. Residents will not require a pass to be outside during non-curfew hours and mosques will resume congregational prayers under strict social distancing rules. The President further announced that persons who had contracted and recovered from Covid-19 would be allowed to travel between islands in the Maldives without quarantining for 60 days. The Maldives would resume welcoming workers and tourists from South Asian countries from July 15, 2021, onwards, subject to the progression of the Covid-19 status in those countries.
Continuing in this vein, the President also acknowledged the difficulties faced due to the constraints of the lockdown, delineating that, to this day, MVR 1.7 Billion had been disbursed as recovery loans, income support allowance and subsidies for utilities. He announced that businesses, namely small and medium businesses such as guesthouses, salons, gyms and dining outlets, will be allowed to take a further loan from the Bank of Maldives under the government’s economic stimulus package. The MVR 370 million programme allows businesses to apply for loans up to MVR 10 million. The SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) will also initiate a new stimulus programme allowing small businesses to apply for relief loans up to MVR 1 million.
President Solih also recapitulated the Maldives’ efforts to create a sustainable, greener economy free of environmental pollutants. He announced that the Maldives had achieved a monumental milestone just this month by becoming the first developing nation in the world to officially discontinue the use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s). He noted that the Maldives had achieved this milestone 10 years in advance of the previously designated date to discontinue the use of the environmentally harmful chemical. The project to eliminate the use of HCFC’s in the Maldives was initiated by former President Mohamed Nasheed during his presidency, and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had initiated a programme to eliminate the use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) in the Maldives during his time as president - President Solih expressed his gratitude to both former presidents for their initiative.
Prior to taking questions from the members of the press, President Solih gave updates on several other topics, including the higher education loans and the recently announced “Gedhoruveriya Loans” and “Gedhoruveriya Flats” housing schemes. He also revealed updates on the probe into the terrorist attack on the Speaker of the Parliament and former President, President Mohamed Nasheed, stating that the investigations were proceeding swiftly and that he was closely monitoring the progress of the inquiries.
President Solih was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail, and the Minister of Health, Ahmed Naseem.