Maldives president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has pledged to create 600,000 new job opportunities in the country by 2023 should the public decide to re-elect him for a second term.
While addressing to the questions at the presidential debate hosted by Maldives National University (MNU); where he spoke without the presence of opposition candidate, president Abdulla Yameen claimed he will create the said amount of new jobs bringing about a 'revolutionary change to Maldives economy.'
Maldives president claimed he will introduce a total of 663,000 new job opportunities by 2023.
"If my 'transformation package' continues at this pace, then I promise to create 663,000 new job opportunities in Maldives by 2023," president Yameen responded.
Highlighting employment statistics, president Yameen noted back in 2011 a total of 110,000 job opportunities were present in Maldives with an 11% unemployment rate.
However, in 2014 and in 2015 the job opportunities were increased to 153,000 while subsequently reducing unemployment rate to 5.2%, according to the incumbent president.
While Maldives president has pledged to introduce more than 600,000 new jobs, the island nation's population with inclusion of children is currently hitting around 400,000.
