President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has nominated three senior diplomats to represent the Maldives at major international organisations, with their names submitted to Parliament for endorsement.

The nominations include Dr Salma Rasheed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva, as the country’s representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Dr Iruthisham Adam, the High Commissioner of the Maldives to the United Kingdom, has been selected to represent the country at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the Maldives' Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, has been nominated as the country’s representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

During its sitting on Tuesday, Parliament referred the nominations to the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee for review and vetting.

The Maldives has been an active participant in the WTO since joining on 31 May 1995. Prior to this, the country was a signatory to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) from 19 April 1993.

The IMO, a specialised United Nations agency, was established on 17 March 1948. It oversees the safety and security of global shipping while working to prevent marine and atmospheric pollution caused by ships. The Maldives became a member on 31 May 1967. The organisation currently has 174 Member States and three Associate Members.

IRENA, an intergovernmental body dedicated to renewable energy, was officially established in 2009 and now comprises 164 Member States. The Maldives has played an active role in the organisation since its inception, serving as Vice Chair of the IRENA Assembly following elections in 2013. In October 2017, the Maldives also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Renewable Island Energy (IRIE).