Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan has stressed the need to use emerging technologies strategically to advance national interests and improve public services.

He made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the “Co. Lab 26” summit to establish the National AI and Data Competency Centre.

Speaking at the event, Minister Ihusaan said the centre represents more than the creation of a new institution. He described it as a symbol of the Maldives’ commitment to building the capabilities required for a new era of governance and economic transformation.

The Minister said the Government’s “Maldives 2.0” policy is a major national initiative aimed at delivering secure, trusted and modern digital services across the country. He said building digital capabilities is not only a technology agenda, but is also closely linked to governance, national resilience and the long-term protection of sovereignty.

In addition, Minister Ihusaan noted that the global economy is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, adding that the Maldives cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. He said the country must not only adopt new technologies, but also manage and use them in ways that safeguard national interests and deliver better services to the public.

The Minister said ongoing efforts include providing every Maldivian citizen with a secure digital identity to make it easier to access online services and carry out digital transactions. He also highlighted work to establish standards and frameworks for data sharing and management across the Government.

The Homeland Security Minister said the Government is also working to develop modern legal frameworks for AI, digital services, cybersecurity and trusted digital transactions, describing these areas as essential capabilities of a modern State.

He said the newly established centre would play a key role in the next phase of Maldives 2.0 by helping formulate policies on AI and data governance, while preparing the Maldives for the digital era and an AI-driven global economy.

The Minister also said the centre is not intended to replace private businesses. He said private sector participation would remain important in driving innovation, investment, engineering capabilities and economic growth.