Chief Communications Strategist of the President's Office, Ibrahim Hood has stated that the government carried out a record number of infrastructural projects this year.
At a press conference held by the President's Office on Wednesday, Hood said the ongoing year has been a successful year for the government, during which several services were provided for the country's citizens.
While 118 infrastructural projects were initiated and are being carried out across 91 islands, this is a record amount of projects to be carried out during the first year of a new government, said Hood.
"This past year has been a very successful year for the government. The upcoming year has even bigger things in store," said Hood.
Hood highlighted some of the achievement s of the administration and pointed out that the budget approved for 2020 is a record amount, and will allocate a large amount of funds for the development of the health and education sector.
The spokesperson said over 5000 students have enrolled in higher education programmes under the administration's first degree programme. He further noted the success of the school breakfast program through which over 55,000 students from 112 schools across the country are benefiting. Furthermore, a large number of students are pursuing higher education abroad under the revised student loan scheme and scholarships.
Hood also spoke on the benefits of the government's strategy of extending maternity and paternity leave, and lowering domestic airfare. He also highlighted on the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) where the establishment of SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) paved the way to provide financial assistance to prospective businesses.
The Spokesperson spoke about the amendments brought to the Decentralization Act that empowered local councils. He also spoke about the government's work of developing five tertiary hospitals across the Maldives, and the introduction of CT scan services, operation theatres, and upgrading laboratories at regional hospitals. This will decrease the need for those in the atolls to travel to capital Male' to seek healthcare services, said Hood.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
