Dhiraagu sponsors President’s visit to Copenhagen

Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun Pvt Ltd (Dhiraagu), the premier Internet Service Provider and the most popular telephone company in the Maldives has sponsored the visit of President Mohamed Nasheed and a top level delegation to Copenhagen in December to attend the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP15).

“We have accumulated a vast fortune over years by charging exorbitant fees for our internet and phone services. We believe a part of the fortune should be contributed to a good cause. Dhiraagu has gone green in recent months and we intend to maintain our commitment to conducting our business with the highest regard to our fragile environment.” Dhiraagu’s Chairperson said in a statement.

Dhiraagu’s announcement came amid speculation that President Nasheed would be unable to attend the Copenhagen summit due to a crippling budget deficit and financial woes. The Indian Ocean atoll nation said Monday it would have to skip UN climate change talks because of lack of funding.

“We can’t go to Copenhagen because we don’t have the money,” President Nasheed told reporters, adding he was staying away to set an example of cost-saving to the rest of the government.

In 2007, the UN climate panel warned that a rise in sea levels of 18 to 59 centimetres (7.2 to 23.2 inches) by 2100 would be enough to make the Maldives virtually uninhabitable.

More than 80 percent of the country’s land, composed of 1,192 coral islands scattered off southern India, is less than one metre above mean sea level.

“We take pride in extending a helping hand to the government of the Maldives in this time of need, especially as the government has been very kind to us by ignoring the high fees we charge for our internet services,” Dhiraagu CEO told reporters on his company’s decision to help the government attend the climate talks.

Dhiraagu is a joint venture between the government of Maldives and the British telecommunications company Cable & Wireless.