The 21st edition of the Asia Media Summit has officially commenced in the Maldives, bringing together regional media leaders, policymakers and broadcasting professionals to discuss the future of media and digital transformation.

The summit is being held under the theme “Maldives 2.0: From Tradition to Tech” and is jointly organised by Public Service Media and the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development. The opening ceremony, held at Villa Nautica Resort, was attended by Cabinet ministers, senior media officials and international delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan inaugurated the summit and highlighted the Government’s “Maldives 2.0” digital transformation agenda. He stated that the initiative aims to modernise governance and strengthen national resilience while preserving the country’s cultural identity and traditions.

The minister also emphasised the growing importance of responsible journalism in the digital era, noting challenges posed by misinformation, online manipulation and declining public trust. He called for ethical and forward-looking media ecosystems capable of supporting social cohesion alongside technological advancement.

More than 300 delegates are participating in the summit, with approximately 80 per cent attending from overseas. The programme includes eight plenary sessions, a high-level ministerial dialogue on public media policies, and discussions focused on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, climate communication and challenges faced by small island states. The summit will conclude with a coral planting initiative in Kudagiri on May 14.