Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid has said that Maldives will take every opportunity to broaden the country’s economy and enter competitive markets.

He said that Maldives will be making use of these opportunities under the cooperation with South-South countries due to having moved into the upper limits of “developing nations” and therefore the upper limits of economic value.

The Minister said this while giving an address at the Second High Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation in Argentina.

He noted in his address that while Maldives moved forward to be named a developing nation with a higher middle income economy in 2011, it is time to seek new investments and opportunities for the country.

He added that the developing world saw several significant changes after the First High Level, United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation in 1978.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that developing nations working together is the engine that operates the progressing world economy. He noted that as such, these ties between nations serve to increase the role of developing nations in growing international businesses.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Maldives is prepared to work with regional and international developing nations. He added that Maldives is also ready to forge further ties to reach any economic opportunities that will benefit the country.

The Ministry has reported that the itinerary of the official visit to Argentina by the Minister consists of meeting with his counterparts and delegations as well as senior officials of other nations. The Ministry reiterated that discussions will be held on economic progress and development as well as other areas of interest on this visit.

The Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed as well as Maldivian Ambassador to Germany, Ahmed Latheef also accompanied the Minister on this visit.

The Second High Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation is to be held from 20 to 22 March in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This year’s conference is in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Technological Cooperation Among Developing Countries held from 30 August to 12 September of 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This 1978 meeting saw nations accept the Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries.

South-South Cooperation was made to facilitate all developing countries to work in unity in the fields of politics, economics, social matters, culture, innovation and the environment.