“Like the blue ocean surrounding us, the possibilities for media are boundless,” said Ahmed Shakeeb, the Managing Director of PSM Maldives.
At the official opening of the 2026 Asia Media Summit, Shakeeb said, “modern communications and transport has transformed our island nation. We can now access global knowledge through digital connectivity, bringing innovation in all sectors of society. From the isolated islands of the past, we are now connected to the whole world.”
Media has brought “truth seeking, cultural preservation and a voice for the people,” he said, talking about the way Maldives is embracing innovation while still maintaining media integrity. “This summit will help shape the future of media for generations to come.”
AIBD President Sudruetai Lertkasem thanked the Maldives for its exceptional hospitality and addressed the importance of responsible media at this time.
“Media helps communicate the human cost of the crises in the world. But media and AI have also become powerful tools for misinformation and false narratives. Media has the potential to undermine democracy, so it must be matched by the ethical activities of responsible media.
“Technology should serve to enlighten the public, not to deceive them. Our journey from tradition to technology must leave no one behind,” she said.
Travelling to the conference venue by boat reinforced the message of many possibilities across the boundless ocean.
AIBD CEO Philomena Gnanapragasam welcomed participants, saying that the Maldivian people’s resilience “is as deep as the sea.”
“Do not be afraid of technology, it is an enabler. We are the ones that create the content at the heart of media’s success,” she said.
AIBD is an intergovernmental organisation that supports media in Asia and is the organiser os the Asia Media Summit.
Mohamad Shareef, the CEO of the event sponsor, Bank of Maldives, talked about the importance of media in development.
“With 1200 islands in the Maldives, banking used to require long journeys to customers on all the islands, now our customers carry their bank accounts in their pocket via our app. Banking in the Maldives has fundamentally changed society, loans can now be approved and dispersed in a matter of hours. Through automation and accessible delivery, banking is now available to everyone. Our geography forced us to innovate to fulfill a mission of financial inclusion and support the growth of the nation’s economic growth.
“Banking requires trust. The financial sector and the media sector are deeply connected. Fact based public discourse is critical to trust and confidence. Confidence can be undermined or strengthened based on the quality of information that gets to the public, so the media carries enormous responsibility. Technology may change the speed of communication, but it should not change the accuracy of that communication.”
Media and Banking are embracing “innovation with purpose” he said.
The Minister for Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, talked about the initiatives to build a smarter and a more resilient nation with the help of the media.
“As we move towards a more connected future we also remain inked to the traditions in society that unite us. We want to create opportunities for future generations while still protecting our national identity. Technology helps us connect and deliver services to our many islands.
The media is part of that. Media is not just reporting change, it is shaping it. It informs understanding and helps societies. As we change, we must strengthen credible journalism to inform the public about the opportunities and threats of the new technology we are using,” he said.
At the Summit’s evening Awards event, Voice of Vietnam‘s World Service won the Radio category. All India Radio Akashvani (आकाशवाणी) was awarded the category commendation and PSM Maldives received the Special Award for Media Excellence.
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