Housing Development Corporation Leads State Companies in RTI Information Disclosure

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has become the first state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the Maldives to fully publish all information required under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The milestone marks a significant shift toward greater corporate transparency for government-linked entities. Information Commissioner Aahid Rasheed announced the achievement via social media, praising HDC for its proactive approach in making legally mandated data publicly accessible. The Commissioner noted that by adhering to these disclosure requirements, HDC has set a critical benchmark for other state-owned companies to emulate. According to Commissioner Rasheed, transparency is paramount for SOEs because they operate using public funds and are responsible for delivering essential services to the population. He urged other government-owned companies to follow HDC’s lead to ensure public accountability and trust in how state resources are managed. While this is the first instance of an SOE achieving full compliance, the Information Commissioner also highlighted that 16 government ministries—including the President’s Office—have already met their respective RTI disclosure obligations. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen the right of citizens to access government information and monitor the performance of public institutions.