Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has said the Maldives' election to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2027-2029 term provides the country with another opportunity to advocate its priorities on economic, social and environmental issues at the international level.

The spokesperson described the election as an important achievement for the Maldives and said membership of ECOSOC would strengthen the country's voice in global discussions on issues that are of particular importance to Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

He noted that economic development, social affairs and environmental issues fall within the council's mandate, adding that the Maldives would be able to use the platform to advance its policies and priorities while contributing to international discussions on matters affecting vulnerable island nations.

The spokesperson said the Maldives has long maintained a strong presence in global environmental advocacy and has consistently received international recognition for its efforts to highlight climate-related challenges faced by small island states. He added that the Government is continuing work across multiple sectors to address environmental concerns and strengthen sustainability initiatives.

He also highlighted the importance of developing skilled professionals in environmental fields, noting that the current Administration has prioritised human resource development to increase local expertise in the sector. He said efforts are underway to create more opportunities for young people to receive training and enter environment-related professions.

The Maldives was elected to ECOSOC on June 4. The Government has recently announced several environmental initiatives, including a decision to allocate MVR 7 million annually from the Green Fund for environmental protection.