AGP Executive Report

Banking Modernisation: Bank of Maldives has selected Finastra Essence to upgrade its core banking systems, aiming for faster product launches and smoother conventional + Islamic banking operations. AI Travel Growth: India’s AI-native holiday planner 30 Sundays raised ₹61 crore in a Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners, planning to expand its AI stack and push into new international markets including the Maldives. Coral Restoration + Learning: Villa Nautica and diveOceanus, with Finland International School, launched a coral restoration and citizen science programme where students track individual coral fragments over time. Marine Safety & Accountability: UK charity governance is under scrutiny after a British 15-year-old died during a whale shark excursion in the Maldives, with parents also suing the school over alleged negligence. Hospitality Talent Pipeline: Sheraton Maldives celebrated seven graduates from Marriott’s Kurimagu Leadership Programme, building local leadership across key resort departments. Maldives Logistics Boost: Sarjak Container Lines partnered with Ocean Gate Logistics to expand on-ground cargo and last-mile logistics support across the Maldives. VR Training for Helicopters: Loft Dynamics’ VR H125 simulator will be installed by Indocopters in India, supporting pilot readiness for H125 operators across the region including the Maldives. Diplomatic Appointments: Singapore named Sitoh Yih Pin as non-resident High Commissioner to Maldives and Patrick Daniel to Sri Lanka.

Digital Finance: Bank of Maldives has selected Finastra Essence to modernise core banking across conventional and Islamic operations, aiming for faster product launches and smoother service. AI Travel: India’s AI-native holiday planner 30 Sundays raised ₹61 crore (Series A, led by Bessemer) to expand its AI stack and push into new markets, including Maldives among its core destinations. Coral Science in Resorts: Villa Nautica and diveOceanus (with Finland International School) launched a coral restoration and citizen science programme where students track individual coral fragments over months. Aviation Training Tech: Loft Dynamics will install a VR H125 full-motion simulator in India via Indocopters, boosting pilot readiness as H125 activity grows across South Asia (including the Maldives). Maritime Logistics: Sarjak Container Lines partnered with Ocean Gate Logistics to strengthen last-mile and specialised cargo handling in the Maldives. Governance & Safety: UK charity oversight is under scrutiny after a British teen’s death linked to a Maldives whale shark excursion, while parents pursue negligence claims. Diplomacy: Singapore appointed new non-resident high commissioners for Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Aviation Outlook: Boeing projects a major rebound by 2045, with a $4.9T global aviation services market, 43,600+ new aircraft, and demand for hundreds of thousands of new pilots, engineers, and cabin crew—good news for travel-linked jobs and services. Maldives Tech & Finance: Bank of Maldives is upgrading its core banking with Finastra Essence to speed up product launches and improve efficiency across conventional and Islamic banking. Travel AI Funding: India’s AI-native travel planner 30 Sundays raised ₹61 crore (Series A) led by Bessemer to expand AI, teams, and international markets—its platform already supports trip planning and on-trip concierge. Digital Payments Push: India and Spain agreed to fast-track talks on linking UPI with Bizum, adding another step toward cross-border instant payments. Marine Science in the Maldives: The Maldives opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah to study sharks and boost education and conservation. Public Health: Maldives health data shows dengue, influenza-like illness, and diarrhea cases down in June, but dengue transmission remains active in some islands.

Banking Modernisation: Bank of Maldives has selected Finastra Essence to upgrade its core banking, aiming for faster product launches, more automation, and smoother service across both conventional and Islamic banking. AI in Travel: India’s AI-native traveltech startup 30 Sundays raised ₹61 crore (about $6.7m) in a Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners to expand its AI planning, grow its team, and enter new markets including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. Digital Payments Push: India and Spain agreed to fast-track technical talks to link UPI with Bizum, building on UPI’s growing international footprint and cross-border settlement efforts. Maldives Safety & Liability: Parents of a 15-year-old British-Singaporean who died on a Maldives trip are suing St Joseph’s Institution International for alleged negligence after a snorkelling incident involving a boat propeller. Public Health Watch: Maldives HPA reported fewer dengue, influenza-like illness, and diarrhoea cases in June, but warned dengue transmission remains active in some islands. Marine Science: Maldives opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah to support shark research, education, and conservation.

Maldives Marine Tech: The Maldives has opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah, aiming to boost shark studies, marine-life education, and local conservation links—an upgrade for the island’s shark-diving economy. Public Health Watch: The Health Protection Agency reports dengue, influenza-like illness, and diarrhea cases fell in June versus May, but dengue transmission is still active in several islands, so prevention remains key. Maritime Safety Training: Alia and the Maldives Institute of Technology wrapped a 47-participant boat operators training programme covering maritime rules, emergency response, first aid, fire safety, and hands-on engine maintenance. Science & Tech Funding: AI-native travel planner 30 Sundays raised ₹61 crore in a Series A, using AI for itinerary creation and trip support, and lists Maldives among its core destinations. Travel Safety & Liability: Parents of a British teen killed during a Maldives snorkelling fieldtrip filed a negligence claim against her school, highlighting safety checks for school-linked marine activities. Healthcare Supply Chain: Pakistan’s DRAP issued an alert over falsified blood-cancer medicines found in the Maldives via unauthorized distributors. Cybercrime Alert: UK police jailed a fake-police crypto gang that stole £4M+ from victims using convincing “secure police account” scams.

Maritime Safety & Skills: Alia wrapped up its 2026 Boat Operators Training with 47 participants, covering maritime rules, navigation safety, emergency response, first aid, fire safety, and hands-on engine maintenance—aimed at safer marine transport across the Maldives. Marine Science: The Maldives opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah to study sharks, boost marine-life education, and strengthen ties between scientists, conservationists, and local communities. Public Health Watch: The Health Protection Agency reported fewer dengue, influenza-like illness, and diarrhea cases in June, but warned dengue transmission is still active in several islands and urged continued mosquito control and hygiene. Education Accountability: The family of a teenager who died during a 2024 Maldives school trip filed a negligence claim against St Joseph’s Institution International, alleging safety and supervision failures during a whale shark expedition. Medicines Safety: DRAP issued an alert after counterfeit blood-cancer medicines were found, including falsified DARZALEX and JAKAVI linked to the Maldives via unauthorized distributors. Cyber & Fraud Risk: UK courts jailed three men for a £4m “fake police” crypto scam that used convincing police calls and websites to steal funds and launder them through luxury spending, including Maldives trips.

Maldives Marine Science: Maldives has opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah, aiming to study sharks, run marine-life education, and boost ties between scientists, conservationists, and local communities—an effort that leans into the island’s shark-diving reputation. Public Health: The Health Protection Agency reports fewer dengue, flu-like illness, and diarrhea cases in June versus May, but warns dengue transmission is still active in several islands and urges continued mosquito-control and hygiene. Maritime Skills: Alia and the Maldives Institute of Technology wrapped up a 47-participant boat operators training programme, covering maritime rules, navigation safety, emergency response, first aid, fire safety, and hands-on engine maintenance. Digital Tech & Policy: ITU’s Kaleidoscope conference recognized a Nexia Maldives paper on AI governance lessons from small island states, highlighting how SIDS can shape global AI rules. Crypto & Security: UK police report and sentence a gang that impersonated officers to steal £4m+ in crypto using fake police websites, underscoring the growing need for stronger digital-asset safeguards.

Marine Science in the Maldives: The Maldives has opened its first shark research center in Fuvahmulah, aiming to study sharks, boost marine education, and link scientists, conservationists, and local communities—backed by the island’s reputation as a top shark-diving spot. Maritime Skills for Safety: Alia wrapped up its 2026 Boat Operators Training with 47 participants, covering maritime rules, navigation safety, emergency response, first aid, fire safety, and hands-on engine maintenance. AI & Tech Policy from Small Islands: Nexia Maldives’ Mohamed Shareef won best paper at ITU’s Kaleidoscope for research on AI governance lessons from small island states, arguing these models can guide global policy. ICT Innovation Call: Nominations for Nepal’s ICT Award 2026 opened online, with categories spanning startups, digital education, and AI innovation, and a free application deadline set for Aug 31. Cybersecurity & Payments: Visa hosted Sri Lanka’s Cybersecurity Conclave 2026, focusing on cyber threats, AI-driven fraud prevention, and public-private coordination to protect digital payments. Internet Speed Watch: Speedtest data ranks the UAE top for mobile speeds, while Maldives appears among the fastest fixed broadband performers. Tourism Tech & Travel: Hotelier Maldives announced its 2026 General Managers’ Forum theme—Resilience and Reinvention—tying talent, technology, and transformation to hospitality planning.

Maritime Safety in Focus: Alia and the Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT) wrapped up a 2026 Boat Operators Training for 47 participants, covering maritime rules, navigation safety, emergency response, first aid, fire safety, and hands-on Yamaha outboard maintenance. AI Governance for Small Islands: Nexia Maldives’ Mohamed Shareef won best paper at ITU’s Kaleidoscope 2026 for research on AI governance lessons from small island developing states, arguing SIDS can guide global AI policy under real-world constraints. Digital Security & Payments: Visa hosted the Visa Sri Lanka Cybersecurity Conclave 2026, bringing banks, regulators, and industry together to tackle cyber threats, AI-driven fraud, and public-private defenses for the digital economy. Marine Conservation in Baa Atoll: Finolhu appointed Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist to expand coral restoration, including underwater nurseries and guest-supported coral planting. Crypto Crime Watch: UK police report three men jailed for a £4m crypto scam that used fake police websites and “secure police accounts,” with spending linked to luxury trips including the Maldives. Internet Speeds Snapshot: Speedtest data ranks the UAE top for mobile speeds, with Maldives listed among the fastest fixed broadband markets.

Cybersecurity for Maldives businesses: Dhiraagu launched Cyber Protect, an enterprise-grade endpoint security service powered by ESET, adding protection for laptops, servers and mobile devices plus threat detection, patching and managed security via its Security Operations Centre. Marine science in Baa Atoll: Finolhu appointed Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist, expanding coral restoration with underwater nurseries, guest-adopted coral trees and thousands of fragments transplanted to boost reef resilience. AI governance from small islands: At ITU’s AI for Good-linked Kaleidoscope 2026, Nexia Maldives’ Mohamed Shareef won best paper for research on AI governance lessons from small island developing states. Digital payments push in Sri Lanka: Bank of Ceylon rolled out BOC Flex Tap & Pay, Sri Lanka’s first mobile wallet contactless solution, aiming for secure, seamless payments. Crypto fraud crackdown with Maldives links: UK courts jailed a gang that impersonated police to steal £4m in crypto, with luxury spending that included trips to the Maldives—another reminder that regulators are tightening digital-asset rules. UAE skincare research: Scientists (including Maldives-based contributors) say extracts from the UAE’s ghaf tree could help fight skin aging, with a prototype cream showing strong anti–free radical activity. Tourism tech & governance talk: Hotelier Maldives’ GM Forum 2026 theme spotlights “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology and Transformation,” tying tech and workforce shifts to guest experience continuity.

Maldives Tech & Tourism: The Maldives is ranked 11th among the world’s happiest travel destinations, scoring 71.4/100 in a study of 1M+ online reviews—good news for the island brand and a reminder that guest experience still drives demand. Marine Science & Conservation: Finolhu appoints Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist, expanding its coral restoration work in Baa Atoll with underwater nurseries and thousands of coral fragments already replanted. Cybersecurity (Maldives): Dhiraagu launches Cyber Protect, an enterprise endpoint security service powered by ESET, aiming to help local businesses defend against ransomware, phishing, and data breaches. Digital Payments (Region): Visa Sri Lanka hosts a Cybersecurity Conclave 2026 focused on AI-driven threats and fraud prevention for the country’s growing digital payments ecosystem. Global Tech Watch: A UAE ghaf-tree extract study (with researchers in France, Italy, and the Maldives) suggests a potential anti-ageing cream that targets free radicals and skin-ageing enzymes. Crypto Crime (UK): UK police report three men jailed for a £4m crypto scam that impersonated police, used fake websites, and laundered funds—one spending spree included trips to the Maldives.

Cybersecurity in the Maldives: Dhiraagu rolled out “Cyber Protect,” an enterprise endpoint security service powered by ESET, aimed at helping local organisations defend against ransomware, phishing and data breaches. Digital Payments (Region): Bank of Ceylon launched “BOC Flex Tap & Pay,” Sri Lanka’s first mobile wallet contactless payments on its BOC Flex platform. Tourism Tech & Governance (Maldives): Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2026 set its theme—“Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology and Transformation”—as resorts look to technology and workforce shifts to stay resilient. Marine Science (Maldives): Finolhu appointed Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist, expanding coral restoration in Baa Atoll with underwater nurseries and guest-supported reef planting. Public Health (Travel Risk): UK health officials warned of rising mosquito-borne illnesses in holiday hotspots, including cases linked to trips to the Maldives. Digital Trade Research (Maldives in focus): A UN ESCAP-backed TradeLab project produced regional digital trade policy reports that include Maldives in the coverage. Crypto Crime (UK, tech policy angle): UK courts jailed a “fake police” crypto gang over a £4m scam, highlighting stricter enforcement and the growing push for tighter digital-asset rules.

Cybersecurity for Maldives businesses: Dhiraagu launched Cyber Protect, an enterprise endpoint security service powered by ESET, adding managed protection, threat detection, patching and response via its local Security Operations Centre. Marine conservation in Baa Atoll: Finolhu appointed Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist, expanding coral restoration with underwater nurseries, guest-adopted coral trees and thousands of transplanted fragments. Tourism leadership in focus: Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2026 (Oct 5) will spotlight resilience and reinvention, with talent, technology and transformation as key themes for resort operators. Digital payments momentum (region): Visa hosted the Visa Sri Lanka Cybersecurity Conclave 2026, focusing on AI-driven cyber threats and fraud prevention for the digital economy. Training for safer marine operations: Alia and MIT started the 2026 Boat Operators Training Programme (July 14–16) for 48 captains, covering maritime rules, emergency response and engine maintenance. Public health travel warning: UKHSA flagged a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses among holidaymakers, noting Maldives-linked dengue risk. Pharma supply reliability: State Pharma said it’s using modern digital tools and better forecasting to strengthen medicine availability and inventory monitoring nationwide.

Maldives–India Trade Push: Minister Mohamed Saeed says recent talks with India’s commerce leadership are “highly productive,” aiming to speed up cooperation on trade, investment, the digital economy, tourism and connectivity, with progress on the India–Maldives FTA and BIT. Enterprise Cybersecurity: Dhiraagu rolls out Cyber Protect, an enterprise-grade endpoint security service powered by ESET and supported by its Security Operations Centre. Digital Payments in the Region: Visa hosts Sri Lanka’s Cybersecurity Conclave 2026, focusing on AI-driven cyber threats, fraud prevention and public-private coordination for safer digital payments. Marine Conservation Jobs & Skills: Finolhu appoints Harry Green Longin as Marine Biologist, expanding coral restoration in Baa Atoll. Tourism Tech & Talent: Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2026 is set for Oct 5 on “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology and Transformation.” Local Marine Safety Training: Alia and MIT start the 2026 Boat Operators Training Programme for 48 captains, covering safety, emergency response and engine maintenance. Health & Travel Risk: UKHSA warns of rising mosquito-borne diseases linked to trips including the Maldives, urging stronger protection for travellers. Pharma Supply Reliability: State Pharma prioritizes uninterrupted medicine availability, adding digital stock monitoring and longer forecasting reserves.

Digital Payments & Cybersecurity: Dhiraagu rolled out Cyber Protect for enterprise endpoint security, while Visa Sri Lanka hosted a Cybersecurity Conclave 2026 focused on AI-driven threats, fraud prevention, and public-private cyber resilience. Mobile Payments in the Region: Bank of Ceylon launched BOC Flex Tap & Pay, Sri Lanka’s first mobile wallet contactless payments via NFC and virtual cards. Maldives Marine Safety & Skills: Alia and the Maldives Institute of Technology started the 2026 Boat Operators Training Programme (14–16 July) for 48 captains, covering navigation safety, emergency response, and Yamaha engine maintenance. Digital Trade Research: HNLU completed a TradeLab project with UN ESCAP and CTIL, contributing to regional digital trade policy and integration reports that include Maldives. Health & Travel Risk: UKHSA warned of rising mosquito-borne illnesses, noting Maldives-linked dengue cases among the highest-risk travel routes. Tourism Tech & Governance: A push for tourism governance over promotion highlights stronger impact assessments and public-private partnerships, aligning with Maldives’ wider need for smarter, tech-enabled planning. Environment & Ocean Stewardship: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru ran Plastic Free July with beach and reef cleans and shark awareness activities. Maldives Happiness Spotlight: A study using over a million online reviews ranked the Maldives 11th among the world’s happiest travel destinations.

Cybersecurity for business: Dhiraagu has launched Cyber Protect, an enterprise endpoint security service powered by ESET, adding protection for laptops, servers and mobile devices plus email/cloud security, threat detection, patching, encryption and managed response via Dhiraagu’s Security Operations Centre. Tourism governance: A new policy push argues tourism can’t be treated as “promotion only” and should move into cabinet-level governance with impact assessments and stronger public-private partnerships. Maldives health tech: State Pharma says it’s prioritising medicine availability over profits, expanding pharmacies under its control and using digital tools for stock, monitoring and longer-demand forecasting. Marine safety training: Alia and the Maldives Institute of Technology started a 2026 Boat Operators Training Programme (14–16 July) for 48 captains, covering navigation, emergency response, first aid and Yamaha outboard maintenance. Coral reef focus: Researchers are set to meet in Auckland for a coral-reef symposium, highlighting Pacific Islander knowledge for reef management. Mosquito-borne disease warning: UKHSA reports a rise in travel-linked mosquito illnesses, with Maldives trips linked to dengue cases. Maldives travel happiness: A global review study ranks the Maldives 11th among “happiest” destinations, scoring 71.4/100. Digital payments: BOC launched BOC Flex Tap & Pay, Sri Lanka’s first mobile-wallet based contactless payment solution. Maldives–India trade talks: Minister Mohamed Saeed says Maldives-India economic talks are progressing on digital economy, tourism, connectivity, plus the FTA and BIT negotiations.