President says innovation empowers youth, drives opportunities

President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday envisioned a future for the Maldives, where young people are empowered, and where digital innovation is the engine that drives economic opportunity and social equity.

He made these remarks during his address at the Plenary Segment of the Summit of the Future, held at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ).

In his address, the president called for the multilateral system to not be an abstract concept but a practical reality in addressing global challenges.

The president presented three proposals aimed at enhancing the multilateral system to yield tangible results.

Firstly, the president highlighted the critical importance of empowering young people. He emphasised the need to design declarations and agreements to inspire and engage the youth. He outlined his initiatives to include young people in the policymaking process and to create opportunities for them to unleash their creative potential.

Secondly, the president emphasised the urgent need to combat climate change, noting that climate anxiety is a real issue affecting approximately 62 percent of youth worldwide. He reiterated the Maldives' commitment to combatting climate change and called on all countries to fulfil their responsibilities in this regard.

Thirdly, the president emphasised that financing is essential to bring positive outcomes. He stressed the need for reliable and sustainable development and climate funding and called for a financial system that listens and works for everyone.

Before closing his statement, the president also stated that future generations will judge not the processes initiated, but the concrete actions taken by international community, and called to halt the genocidal war in Gaza, to hold perpetrators of human rights accountable, and to grant Palestine full membership of the United Nations.

The president is currently in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).