The Ministry of Finance and Planning has recruited a local consultancy firm to prepare the 20-year National Development Plan.
Announced by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in September last year, the consultancy on the formulation of the National Development Plan has been awarded to local consultancy firm, Nexia Maldives.
The plan aims to guide sustainable economic, social, environmental, and urban development across the country. It will be based on research from all regions and include strategies for local areas, with a legally binding framework for implementation and evaluation. The government plans to complete the plan within a year.
The primary objective of consultancy is designed to outline and develop a comprehensive National Development Plan that addresses key economic, social, environmental, urban development and governance priorities for the sustainable growth and prosperity of the Maldives over the next 20 years. The plan will include mechanisms for effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the NDP, the Ministry said.
Nexia Maldives has more than 18 years of experience in consultancy, government policy formulation, institutional strengthening and strategic planning.
Nexia said the meeting with stakeholders to develop the plan will be completed within four months and the plan will be formulated by mid-January next year.
President Dr Muizzu had stated the importance of ensuring that every island has a voice in the National Development Plan.
The President highlighted that if the country's development is subject to constant shifts due to political influences, it will not benefit the people. To address this, he aims to enshrine the plan with legal authority and integrate it into the Constitution, thus making it a binding national initiative.
The President emphasised that this work should be regarded as a national endeavour, with input from every island in the Maldives.