Biography

His Excellency Faisal Naseem is the current Vice President of the Republic of Maldives. He was sworn into office on 17 November 2018.

Born on 20th July 1973 in Fuvahmulah City, he has cherished a commitment for social work since his youth, a passion he discovered and honed during his years of active engagement in social work while attending secondary school. Further, through his non-profit organization, the ‘Faisal Foundation’, which he established in 2009, he has contributed immensely to the provision of educational and health services for the youth of his constituency, Kaashidhoo, and in his home, Fuvahmulah.

In addition to his passion for social work, Vice President Naseem has always had a keen interest in good governance and democratic reform. This led to his active involvement in politics, when the incipient democratic reform efforts that had begun in the early 2000s blossomed into a movement that would later culminate in the Maldives’ formal transition to a democratic system of governance.

In recognition of his active involvement and contributions during the aforementioned democratic reform efforts, in 2004 Naseem was elected as a member (representing the constituency of Fuvahmulah) to the Special Majlis (constitutional assembly) that was convened to draft a new, democratic constitution for the Maldives. The successful ratification of the constitution in that year led to the country’s first ever competitive, multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections, which were held in November 2008 and May 2009 respectively.

In 2014, he competed as the Jumhooree Party candidate for Kaashidhoo constituency in the parliamentary elections and succeeded.

Outside of social work, governance and politics, Faisal Naseem has a longstanding professional involvement with the Maldives’ tourism industry, where he began his professional career.

He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Birmingham, and Business Administration from Cardiff Metropolitan University, respectively. Following the completion of his studies, he joined the hospitality industry in order to become better acquainted with his chosen profession, where he served in a variety of capacities, including as Assistant Manager and subsequently as the General Manager of Paradise Island, one of the largest resorts in the Maldives.

As Vice President, His Excellency Faisal Naseem has undertaken a number of responsibilities including chairing the Social Council at the President’s Office, which oversees a number of social projects and policies of the Government.

Faisal Naseem is married and has 3 sons.

Biography

Parliamentary Service

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was first elected as the MP for Faadhipolhu (Lhaviyani atoll) in 1994. In 2004, following the start of the Maldives’ democratic reform process, President Solih became one of the first founders and one of the original 42 signatories of the Maldivian Democratic Party. When the party was set up in exile in Sri Lanka in 2003, he was a member of the MDP advisory board.

President Solih played an integral role in the country’s reform process, driving change from within the Parliament during the special constituent assembly (Special Majlis) established in 2004 to formulate the Maldives’ first democratic constitution. He served on the drafting committee of the new Constitution. This democratic constitution resulted in the separation of powers, the guaranteeing of fundamental rights and led to the country’s first multi-party, democratic Presidential election in 2008. In January 2005, President Solih was one of the first individuals to contest for Parliament and win as a candidate endorsed by the still not yet formally registered Maldivian Democratic Party.

Following the constitutional reform process and remapping of Parliamentary constituencies, President Solih became the MP for Hinnavaru in 2009, his home constituency. He was the MDP Parliamentary Group leader since 2011 until his assumption of presidential office, serving as the majority leader from 2012 to 2013 and the minority leader in 2018. President Solih led the MDP Government's challenging legislative agenda, which included the introduction of progressive taxation, universal health insurance, and decentralisation in a Parliament where the MDP Government did not have a working majority. He served as the head of the Parliament’s oversight committee on the national budget under the MDP Government and on the Public Finances Account Committee for 10 years.

Maldivian Democratic Party

In addition to being one of the original signatories of the Maldivian Democratic Party and serving as the Parliamentary Group leader, President Solih also served as the chief negotiator representing the MDP during any occasions requiring political dialogue with the Government, such as following former President Mohamed Nasheed’s arrest in 2015. Since the arrest and exile of political leaders, he has worked to maintain a united opposition. He became the leader of the Joint Opposition’s Parliamentary Group in 2017 and is also a member of the MDP National Council and National Executive Council.

Pre - Parliament

Prior to entering the Parliament, President Solih worked at state broadcaster, Television Maldives during the late 1980s. In 1990, President Solih worked with former President Mohamed Nasheed on a current affairs magazine, Sangu, where he was a member of the editorial board. Sangu was raided and unlawfully shut down by the government in 1990, and several of its members were arrested. An ardent sportsman, President Solih is married to Fazna Ahmed, an education specialist. They have two children, a son and daughter, aged 21 and 23 respectively.

Biography

On 17th November 2018, Mr. Ibrahim Ameer sworn in as the Minister of Finance, Republic of Maldives.

Mr. Ameer has worked as an Assistant Manager at the Central Bank of Maldives, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) from April 2008 till June 2011. During his tenure in MMA, he guided the Research Division in conducting economic analysis of different sectors of the Maldivian economy; and led preparation of Economic Bulletins and Review papers published by MMA. Moreover, while working at MMA, he worked as a part-time lecturer for Economics and Microeconomics in different colleges of Male’.

In addition, he served the private sector as a General Manager of ADK Trade and Shipping Pvt. Ltd from 28th October 2014 till 7th February 2015.He worked as a Business Consultant/Analyst from 4th May 2015 till he took charge of office as the Minister of Finance. Mr. Ameer is the Deputy Chairman of the Economic Committee of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and he was also the Chairman of Finance and Treasury Committee formed during the transition period after Elections 2018.

Mr. Ameer obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in International Economics (Hons) from Multimedia University in 2007 and later was awarded with a Fulbright Scholarship to complete his Master’s Degree in Economics in 2013 from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

He has previously worked as a Commerce/Economics Teacher (Resources) in Muhibbuddin School, S. Hithadhoo from June 2003 till September 2003. Afterwards, during November 2003 he joined the Maldivian Chamber of Commerce as an Accounts Officer and worked there till 2004.

Born on 04th February 1984. He is married with two sons.