Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has said that opportunities for successful foreign investment in the Maldives has opened with amendments to the Foreign Investment Act and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the government’s economic reform agenda.

Minister made the comments while addressing the Maldives–Singapore Business Forum 2025, which opened Tuesday morning in Singapore, being held to coincide with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's current official visit to Singapore.

In his address to over 200 attending business leaders, Minister Khaleel reflected on the longstanding relationship between the two countries, noting that diplomatic ties were established a decade after Maldivian independence in 1965, and that both nations joined the United Nations on the same day. As the two mark 50 years of bilateral relations this year, he called for deeper cooperation to advance shared economic goals in the decades ahead.

Giving details about domestic progress in the Maldives, Minister Khaleel highlighted the country's growing appeal across a range of investment sectors, and identified opportunities in general business ventures such as  aviation, tourism, logistics, renewable energy infrastructure, and digital services: fields he described are opened   for foreign capital.

Within moves to improve  government's investment framework, he said, is the first substantive revision of the Foreign Investment Act in 45 years. The amended legislation, Minister Khaleel said, is intended to clarify permissible investment areas and introduce sound operational standards, thereby enhancing legal clarity and safeguarding investor interests.

In parallel with the legislative changes, the Maldives is expanding its investment landscape through the development of Special Economic Zones or SEZs. These zones, according to Minister Khaleel, are designed to accommodate infrastructure projects, support data localization, and promote blue economy ventures. "It establishes a platform for infrastructure development, data localization, and projects linked to the blue economy," Minister Khaleel said, reaffirming the government's commitment to legal frameworks that ensure operational efficiency within the zones.

Minister Khaleel concluded his remarks by underscoring the government's broader ambition: to present the Maldives as a reliable and attractive destination for global investment. He noted that the reforms implemented over the past eighteen months, with the revised Foreign Investment Act at their core, signal a deliberate and strategic push to strengthen international investor confidence.

The Maldives–Singapore Business Forum 2025 is held to celebrate  

50 years of diplomatic relations, a partnership built on mutual respect, economic cooperation, and shared aspirations for progress.

The Forum is primarily geared towards individuals and organizations with a direct or new interest in fostering economic relationships between Singapore and the Maldives. These include business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from both countries, particularly those operating within the identified priority sectors such as Financial Services, Tourism and Hospitality, Real Estate Development, and Renewable Energy. 

Given the objective of presenting the Maldives as an "investment-ready economy," potential investors looking for new markets and growth opportunities would find this forum highly relevant.

Furthermore, government officials and policymakers from both the Maldives and Singapore who are involved in economic development, trade, and international relations are present at this event.

The participation of Maldivian Cabinet Ministers and Senior Government Leadership aims to facilitate dialogue between government entities and business leaders.