World Bank’s support is more vital now than ever, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The president made the statement during a meeting with the World Bank’s Country Director to the Maldives, Faris Hadad-Zervos, and Country Manager, Chiyo Kanda, on Sunday morning.

At the meeting, President Solih highlighted the “constructive” relationship between the two for the past 24 years, and thanked the institution “for the continuous assistance” provided to the Maldives.

Noting that World Bank was among the first to provide the Maldives with Covid-19 relief assistance as well as in helping the country implement projects to strengthen its health sector preparedness, the president said that its “support is more vital now than ever in light of the difficult national circumstances the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the country's economy”.

He further urged their continued assistance as the Maldives builds on its efforts to develop greater resilience.

The President’s Office said that the World Bank’s delegation noted its readiness to assist the Maldives accomplish its macro-fiscal priorities and enhance its economic resilience, while helping the country recover from the ongoing pandemic.

Country Director, Hadad-Zervos, also noted that the delegation’s visit during the global crisis “shows the World Bank' commitment to supporting the Maldives”.

The World Bank officials also congratulated President Solih on the government’s “positive trajectory in the past two years,” and wished continued success in working towards women’s empowerment and decentralization.

The World Bank has collaborated with the Maldives on over 32 projects, cumulatively worth over USD 295 million. It is currently assisting the Maldives in an array of fields, including public finance, renewable energy, capacity-building, improving the education sector, enhancing the fisheries sector and investing in human capital.