President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has stated there is the opportunity to achieve the dreams of all Maldivians and invites the youth to participate in the developmental endeavours being undertaken. In his address to the nation on the occasion of Maldives' 53rd Independence Day, President Abdulla Yameen urged the next generation to contribute substantially through effective economic activity and be an active participant in the developmental initiatives to be on par with the developmental milestones achieved by the country. Furthermore, President Yameen encouraged all Maldivians to make use of the opportunity to realise the dreams.
Additionally, the president called upon the people to be a part of the efforts of the administration to ensure that sufficient doctors, nurses and other skilled practitioners are trained in time to meet the job opportunities that will be available from the upcoming developmental initiatives. President Yameen stated he has achieved what his citizens had always asked for during the course of his term by listening to the views of all Maldivians. President Yameen pronounced a new era has been brought about to Maldives through the ongoing major development projects throughout the country and the efforts to enhance the living standard of the citizens. The developmental achievements across the country, highlighted president, proudly noting that there remains no citizen who has not experienced the benefits of the collective efforts towards greater development.
He has also remarked that despite his best efforts, providing adequate and affordable housing to all Maldivian citizens is a task that he is yet to fulfil.
In this regard, President Yameen announced the conclusion of the feasibility studies of Hiyaa Accomplished project proposed as a total solution for housing, and stated that all Maldivians who turn 18 by 2030 will have adequate housing.
The President stated under the Hiyaa Accomplished project, every Maldivian above the age of 18 years without a house and every Maldivian who will turn 18 by 2030 will get a land allocation of a minimum of 1 thousand square feet or an apartment unit. He also stated that in the future there will be no Maldivian left without adequate housing.
Furthermore, the president noted that efforts are under way to complete the task with the ongoing housing project in Hulhumale' to provide adequate housing to over 100 thousand citizens, with over 17 thousand housing units contracted to develop. All the basic needs of all Maldivian citizens can be achieved within the next 10 years by realizing major infrastructure projects in the Maldives, from airports to transhipment ports to tourism to schools, hospitals and other investments, and by ensuring that sufficiently skilled practitioners are trained in time to meet the job opportunities that will be available from these developmental initiatives, President added.
Moreover, the president underscored Maldives has already entered a new chapter in terms of an own policy on foreign and international affairs of Maldives.
The President further clarified that the newly established ties on commerce and trade, are neither designed to replace existing ones, nor are they intended to change the basic premise of the foreign and domestic policies; instead these new relationships have been established to seek better prospects for Maldivians.
On conclusion, the President also advised the nation to be aware of the different ideologies, creeds and political beliefs Maldivians come across and called on them to take into account the wider interests of the Maldivian people when considering decisions and pronouncements on the Maldives taken by other countries.