President Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government is actively working to introduce additional major international digital services to the Maldives following the recent launch of PayPal in the country.
Speaking on the second episode of the Nation Chat podcast, the President said that bringing PayPal to the Maldives required extensive efforts from the government, including close coordination and the removal of various barriers to facilitate the service’s entry. He noted that some had doubted whether the initiative could be achieved, but the service is now available to Maldivians.
“I am very pleased that we were able to make it happen,” he said.
The President added that efforts are continuing not only to expand PayPal-related services, but also to attract other global digital platforms and financial services to the country. He emphasized that building a strong digital economy remains one of the government’s key priorities.
According to President Muizzu, the government aims to increase the digital economy’s contribution to the Maldives’ GDP to 15 percent by 2030.
He also stressed the importance of establishing partnerships with major international technology companies. As part of these efforts, he revealed that Google has already begun operating and expanding its activities in the Maldives, following discussions held during the 2024 session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The President said the arrival of global technology firms is expected to unlock a range of new opportunities for Maldivians. Among the initiatives currently being pursued is enabling YouTube monetization, which would allow local content creators to earn revenue directly through the platform.
“There are many more opportunities ahead. This will provide significant benefits for young people and everyone working in the creative industry, helping them grow and succeed in the digital economy,” he said.
