A budget of over MVR four million has been allocated in next year's proposed state budget for the purpose of campaigning to elect Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the President of the UN General Assembly.
The Maldives has announced its interest in running for the 76th UNGA’s presidency. The foreign ministry said the decision was made as part of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s foreign policy. In this regard, the proposed budget for 2021 allocates MVR 4.35 million for the purpose of campaigning for the post. The budget has also included an estimated budget of MVR 6.5 million for 2022 for the same purpose.
The post of president of UNGA is voted on a yearly basis by the members of the core UN body. In June, Turkish Diplomat Volkan Bozkir was elected President of the forthcoming session of the UN General Assembly.
Among South Asian states, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh nationals have been UNGA President in the past. Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan nationals have not UNGA president to date. During Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Shringla’s recent trip to the Maldives, he assured India’s backing for Minister Shahid’s candidature
