A week-long workshop series aimed at advancing the creative economy and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities in the Maldives tourism sector has successfully concluded. The sessions, held from July 1 to 6 at Barcelo Nasandhura in Malé City, brought together government officials, industry experts, and business leaders to foster dialogue, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
The workshops were organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the British Council. According to the Economic Ministry, around 50 participants — including technical experts from government ministries, agencies, institutions, and businesses — took part in the sessions each day.
The initiative focused on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth through knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on strategies to align with the government’s economic goals, enhance the profitability of the tourism and trade sectors, and improve the production of goods and services for the tourism industry.
Speaking to PSM News, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Dr Aishath Shahudha Abdulla said the workshop’s initial phase aimed to create a shared platform where producers and industry workers could collaborate on solutions.
“We brought together 14 individuals from the tourism sector and 20 from the creative industry to engage in meaningful discussions. These conversations generated new business ideas. Cross-industry collaboration like this is rare, and we focused on connecting these sectors to address existing challenges,” said Dr Shahudha.
The workshops also sought input from government institutions and agencies to address key challenges facing the creative and tourism sectors. ADB, one of the technical partners, highlighted the importance of gathering diverse perspectives and emphasised the critical role of joint efforts in promoting creative industries.
Developing a creative economy is a key policy priority for the Maldives government. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that his administration is committed to raising the creative industry’s contribution to 15 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ahead of the 2030 target.
The workshop series marks a step forward in this effort, providing a platform for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable economic diversification.