Maldives Establishes Digital Transformation Council to Advance 'Maldives 2.0' Vision

President Muizzu Forms Digital Transformation Council

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu officially established the Digital Transformation Council on September 22, 2025. This new council is mandated to facilitate, guide, and oversee the implementation of the ambitious 'Maldives 2.0 – Digital-First Nation' vision. The formation of the council, which will be chaired by President Muizzu himself, was made on the advice of the Cabinet.

'Maldives 2.0' Vision: A Digital-First Nation

The 'Maldives 2.0' initiative, a flagship program of President Muizzu's administration, was first announced on May 5, 2025. This vision aims to revolutionize public service delivery and governance by digitizing government operations and services over a three-year period. The primary objectives include establishing a unified digital system for all government activities, enhancing transparency, modernizing the public sector, reducing opportunities for corruption, streamlining administrative processes, and improving citizen access to public services. The initiative draws significant inspiration from Estonia's advanced digital governance systems, with the Maldives aiming to achieve in four years what Estonia accomplished in 25.

Mandate and Core Pillars of Digital Transformation

The Digital Transformation Council's core mandate is to ensure the effective realization of the 'Maldives 2.0' roadmap. The vision is structured around eight core components or pillars designed to build a robust digital infrastructure and governance framework:

• Digital identity and trusted transactions: A secure national ID system for rights protection and consent-based service access.
• Open data sharing and governance: Interconnected systems to foster a smarter and more connected digital environment.
• Cybersecurity for national resilience: Robust defenses to protect national systems and build public trust in digital services.
• Modern legal framework for digital trust and governance: Laws designed to protect rights, enable innovation, and instill confidence in digital services.
• Secure and sovereign digital infrastructure: National cloud services, data centers, and archives to ensure digital independence.
• Citizen-centric e-government services: Streamlined, fast, transparent public services built around citizen needs.
• Sectoral digital transformation: Modernizing key sectors such as healthcare, education, justice, and parliament.
• ICT ecosystem development and innovation: Empowering Maldivian talent and the digital industry.

Strategic Goals and Implementation Timeline

The 'Maldives 2.0' initiative is set for a three-year implementation period, with several strategic goals outlined. A key ambition is to enable one-third of the civil service to work remotely by 2028, which is expected to reduce congestion in Malé and offer environmental benefits. Furthermore, the government projects that by 2030, 15 percent of the Maldives' production will be reliant on the digital economy. The establishment of the Digital Transformation Council marks a significant step towards achieving these ambitious targets and positioning the Maldives as a leading digital-first nation.