Inclusivity is vital for Maldives to reach advanced economy status: USAID Mission Director
We were very happy to kind of step up during the pandemic to try to support the Maldives
USAID mission director to Sri Lanka and Maldives Reed Aeschliman
The economy of Maldives will need to be more inclusive for the country to reach advanced economy status, says the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director assigned to Maldives and Sri Lanka, Reed Aeschliman.
This was revealed by the USAID Mission Director during an exclusive interview with RaajjeTV, where he talked about some of the projects the agency has conducted in the Maldives, and the projects the agency is most proud of.
An enthusiastic Aeschliman revealed that he is “proud of all of them” before shedding light on a project focusing on the vulnerable youth that are unemployed, do not have the skills to get a job or those that are struggling in the grasp of narcotics abuse.
Going on to touch down on recent activities that mirrored the goodwill of the U.S. government, Aeschliman stated that USAID has had the opportunity to partner with the Maldives and support in its Covid-19 response efforts.
In accordance with USAID’s “core value” to extend a helping hand and support to host countries “at a time of need”, U.S. donated 400,000 Pfizer vaccines to the Maldives and worked in partnership with the Ministry of Health to ensure the administration of vaccine doses in successful.
This, coupled with the 60 ventilators gifted by the U.S. government that have reached 60 different islands so far along with other equipment and consumables like gloves and masks going out to the Maldivian people has been a good thing, said the Mission Director.
Highlighting the strong diplomatic ties the U.S. and the Maldives have enjoyed for decades and how USAID has contributed to developing these ties, Aeschliman stated that the relations have progressed in recent times.
