Male, February 21 (newsin.asia): In his opening address to the Maldivian parliament here on Wednesday, President Abdulla Yameen recalled the achievements of his government in the past year and outlined the projects he proposes to execute in 2018. Announced in the run up to the Presidential election in September this year, his focus was on social welfare, housing, education and investment opportunities for the youth.
Yameen said that economic growth had reached to 6.9% in 2017, thanks to an 8% in tourist arrivals. Yameen said that Maldives was visited by more than 1.3 million tourists last year.
He mentioned the US$ 160 million loan from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and said that a significant portion of it will be used to develop the fisheries sector.
The Maldives Head of State and government highlighted the achievements of the fisheries industry during past year. Loans had been to the youth to start ventures in the fishing sector..
President Yameen assured social housing by 2019 for more than 160,000 people in the greater Male’ region (specifically from the satellite town of Hulhumale’.
Focusing on the achievements in the field of health and education, the President noted the introduction of treatment provisions for three diseases which were not treated in Maldives before. These included cardiac ailments. He also assured the introduction of WiFi in all government schools by this year’s academic second term.
President Yameen forecast that the Maldives government will collect MVR 22.4 billion as state income by the end of 2018.
(The featured image at the top shows Maldivian President Yameen in parliament with the Speaker by this side)