Maldives central bank governor Ali Hashim is overseeing the modernisation of banking law and technology, with plans to adopt open APIs and attract foreign investors.

The Maldives Stock Exchange may be small by international standards, but it has big ambitions to expand the country’s capital markets and boost innovation in the process.  

The Maldives has embraced technology to modernise its banking system and serve its citizens, but coronavirus now threatens its crucial tourist sector. 

The Maldives finance minister discusses the new government's priorities, its relationships with its neighbours and China, and investing in the ‘blue economy’.

Maldives minister of finance and treasury Ahmed Munawar tells Stefania Palma how the country hopes to diversify government debt, support public infrastructure mega-projects and engage with China under a new free-trade agreement.