President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said the Government aims to complete most of its nationwide development projects by Independence Day 2028, describing the target as a major milestone towards the Maldives' goal of becoming a developed country by 2040.

Speaking at the official Independence Day ceremony, President Dr Muizzu said the Government had completed 590 development projects during its first two years and eight months in office. He contrasted this with 285 projects completed by the previous administration and 321 by the administration before that over the same period. 

The President added that 1,635 projects were currently underway across the country, compared with 414 and 355 projects undertaken by the previous two governments during an equivalent timeframe, saying development would continue to be delivered equally across the country under the Government's decentralised policy, regardless of the size of an island.

Outlining the Government's vision for Independence Day 2028, President Dr Muizzu said every inhabited island would have completed water and sewerage systems, waste management facilities, fitness and recreation centres, outdoor gyms, children's parks and ATM services. He added that education and healthcare services would also be strengthened through upgrades to school infrastructure to support inclusive education, alongside the establishment of police stations, health centres, laboratories, CT scan facilities and dialysis services in every atoll.

The President said work on Quran centres, universities, futsal and football grounds, electricity infrastructure and fuel stations selling fuel at State Trading Organisation (STO) rates would also be completed, while communities across every atoll would have access to an airport within a 30-minute journey. The programme also includes picnic islands, bank branches, sports complexes, housing projects, Islamic centres and council office buildings in at least 100 islands.

He added that significant progress would also be made on the Government's plan to develop 10 resorts aimed at increasing tourism benefits for Maldivians, while the redevelopment of roads in Malé and construction of the Villimalé Hospital were also expected to be nearing completion by Independence Day 2028. President Dr Muizzu said achieving these targets would mark a significant milestone in the Government's vision of transforming the Maldives into a developed nation by 2040.