Latheef tells Commonwealth leaders the Maldives aims for developed status by 2040

The Maldives has put a date on its aim of becoming a developed nation: 2040. Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, the Vice President, gave Commonwealth leaders that date on 4 November 2026 in a speech at St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, according to the President's Office.

His remarks were delivered in Executive Session II of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Milestones on the way

The 2040 goal sits alongside two shorter-term commitments he highlighted:

• by 2028, renewable sources providing 33 per cent of the nation's energy
• by 2030, a digital economy worth 15 per cent of GDP

Three tests for partnership

Turning to the Commonwealth itself, Latheef identified three principles that, in his view, should underpin resilient partnerships among its members:

• Durability: assistance that leaves behind lasting capability, not merely relief for immediate needs
• Freedom of choice: cooperation that respects national interests and allows each member state to determine its own path of development
• Closer collaboration: shared expertise, practical help and jointly devised responses to problems spanning climate resilience and digital transformation