Every country should have the freedom to determine its own development: Vice President

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef stated that every country should have full autonomy to determine its own development trajectory.

The Vice President made these remarks while speaking at Executive Session 2 of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) ongoing in Antigua and Barbuda.

In his speech, he highlighted three key areas where the Commonwealth should prioritize resilient partnerships.

According to the Vice President, these areas include institutional capacity building, fostering self-reliance, and transforming shared challenges into collaborative, practical action.

Emphasizing that every member state should have full freedom to chart its own path to development, the Vice President highlighted the importance of countries sharing experiences and offering practical assistance in areas such as climate resilience and digital transformation.

He added that the strength of the Commonwealth lies in the self-determination and capability of its member states.

Speaking at the session, the Vice President also shed light on several key targets set by the Maldives. In this regard, he noted the government's goals to transform the Maldives into a developed nation by 2040, ensure the digital economy accounts for 15% of GDP by 2030, and source 33% of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2028.

He noted that these goals represent efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Maldives under the vision of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, emphasizing that the driving force behind national development is the people, especially the youth.

Empowering young people with skills, knowledge, and opportunities is essential to realizing this vision, he added.

The Vice President also pointed out that disruptions to global supply chains and economic vulnerabilities pose significant challenges to countries in achieving their long-term goals.

He called on the Commonwealth to play a vital role in overcoming these hurdles through resilience-focused partnerships.