Managing Director of the State Trading Organization (STO), Hussain Amru has stated that in the next few years, there is hope to label Maldives as the “cleanest” country in the entire world.

Amru made these remarks while speaking at the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum hosted by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, themed “Evolving Trade Towards Regional Cooperation, Sustainability and Inclusivity”.

Shedding light on economic development and environmental goals, Amru stressed that at least in the short term, one cannot be prioritized while the other is left.

With this being said, Amru noted that the Maldives’ GDP grew from USD 500 million to USD six billion in just 15 years, adding that its per capita grew from USD 2,000 to USD 10,000 in that period as well.

This in turn has paved the path for a lot of demand for the government to take infrastructure projects such as roads, harbors, bridges, schools, hospitals and even airports, said Amru, who added that all the limited funds are allocated to these economic development infrastructure development projects.

However, the STO MD said that the government of Maldives has introduced a green tax which is paid by tourists that visit Maldives. The green fund created through these green taxes is allocated wholly for environment projects and green initiatives.

Highlighting that the government currently has a target to go net-zero by 2030, Amru stated that this means that any projects which will increase our carbon emission will not have to be undertaken.

Instead, the government will be using greener initiatives and projects to come up to a level that is balancing.

He also stated that the government takes its commitment to the ban of single-use plastics very seriously, adding that packed bottles and even plastic cotton buds have been completely banned so far.

Amru added that by 2024, most of the single-use plastics will be banned, so “hopefully” in the next couple of years people can label the Maldives as the “cleanest” country in the world.