Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Golam Sarwar, arrived in the Maldives today to take part in the Asia Media Summit 2026.
His arrival marks one of the senior regional appearances confirmed for the gathering. Moreover, the summit’s delegate roster continues to fill out as participating countries send their representatives ahead of the official May 11 start.
Top-Level Arrivals at Velana
Public Service Media (PSM) Managing Director Ahmed Shakeeb and PSM Chairperson Aminath Namza welcomed the SAARC Secretary-General at Velana International Airport. The State Secretary for Social Communications for Timor-Leste, Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes, also touched down in the Maldives today for the same summit.
Consequently, the early arrivals signal strong regional buy-in for the country’s hosting role.
The Asia Media Summit functions as the flagship annual event of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD). PSM holds hosting rights for this edition. Therefore, the gathering doubles as a high-visibility platform for the country’s national broadcaster within the regional media ecosystem.
Maldives 2.0: From Tradition to Tech
This year’s Asia Media Summit 2026 runs under the theme “Maldives 2.0: From Tradition to Tech”. The framing positions the country as a meeting point between heritage media traditions and the technology-driven shifts now reshaping the broadcasting industry across Asia-Pacific.
More than 200 senior delegates from broadcasting institutions and media regulators across the region will attend. Furthermore, the four-day programme blends specialized workshops, plenary sessions, and on-site activities at Villa Nautica.
What’s on the Agenda
Pre-summit workshops kick off on May 11, opening the technical track of the programme. Key discussion topics include the use of artificial intelligence tools in storytelling and news production, development in AI technologies, maintaining public trust in digital media during an AI-driven era, and the role of the media in climate change awareness.
The official opening ceremony follows on May 12. Plenary session on May 12 and 13 tackle regional media goals and cross-border cooperation. The summit closes on May 14 with a coral planting activity at Kudagiri, the same activity that anchors the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) partnership announced earlier this month.
Why It Matters
The Asia Media Summit ranks among the leading media gatherings in the Asia-Pacific region. The forum gives broadcasting leaders a structured platform to discuss responsible media practices, technology adoption, and regulatory cooperation. Consequently, hosting the event puts the Maldives at the center of conversations that will shape regional broadcasting strategy for the year ahead.
For PSM, the Asia Media Summit 2026 delivers a dual upside. The event reinforces the broadcaster’s standing within AIBD, while also showcasing the country’s capital to convene high-level regional dialogue. Furthermore, the AI-heavy agenda aligns the summit with the broader direction of travel for global broadcasting: automation, audience trust, and technology-led production workflows.
For the Maldives more broadly, the summit projects soft power. A four-day platform covering media regulation, climate communication, and emerging tech reaches an audience that extends well beyond the 200 delegates physically in the room.