The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts has signed an agreement with Public Service Media (PSM) to establish the National News Agency.

The signing ceremony, held on August 7, 2025, highlighted a key step in the Government’s efforts to centralise news dissemination and support local media outlets. The agency is being developed as a digital platform that will provide registered media professionals with access to verified news, photographs, videos, and information essential for reporting.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ibrahim Waheed stated that the initiative is intended to reduce barriers faced by media outlets, particularly those with limited staff and resources. The Government believes the platform will enable smaller newsrooms to produce quality content more efficiently, thereby promoting media diversity and growth.

As part of the project, the National News Agency portal will be jointly run by PSM and the Ministry. The design and technical work of the platform have already been completed, and the system is now undergoing final testing. Once operational, it will act as a centralised hub for content sharing within the Maldivian media landscape.

PSM Managing Director Ibrahim Nasreen indicated that the platform is being developed not as a competitor to private media, but as a collaborative tool that leverages State resources to enhance industry standards. The agency will also work to make select foreign content available to local outlets, with ongoing efforts to secure access to global providers such as AVN and Reuters, for which PSM holds subscriptions. 

In addition to supporting domestic content creation, the National News Agency is expected to facilitate international access to Maldivian news, potentially increasing the global visibility of local stories.