In a landmark event that fulfilled a key campaign pledge, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu officially launched PayPal services in the Maldives, declaring a new era for the island nation’s digital economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President challenged local creators and innovators to leverage the newly‑available online payment platform to establish a foothold in international markets.
According to the President, the biggest obstacle for Maldivian creators has been the lack of easy, secure channels to share their skills and products with the world. Despite the size of the nation, the incumbent administration has refused to accept that limitation, he said, adding that by bringing PayPal, Maldives has opened a direct gateway to the global marketplace.
The launch is part of a broader strategic blueprint aimed at transforming the Maldives into a digitally‑driven economy. The President outlined a vision to raise the contribution of the digital sector to the country’s GDP to at least 15 percent by 2030, a target supported by the Dhivaru International Submarine Cable project in partnership with Google.
The President insisted that the Maldives is now equipped with the most advanced digital infrastructure, ready to support cutting‑edge commerce and innovation.
President Muizzu also highlighted the historical parallels between the Maldives’ maritime connections and today’s digital links. He explained that while Maldives’ ancestors connected the nation to the world by sea; today Maldives is connected to the world through the digital economy.
In addition to the PayPal rollout, the government is developing the Creator Hub—a state‑of‑the‑art complex slated to open on 11 November. The Hub will feature modern studios and co‑working spaces designed to nurture talent across creative industries. Regional facilities are also being rolled out across the atolls to ensure every citizen can access the tools needed to market their products globally.
The President called on Maldivian manufacturers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to take full advantage of these new facilities, showcase Maldivian ingenuity to the world and step onto the international stage.