In a proud moment for Maldives’ creative economy, filmmaker Ravee Farooq has brought global attention to the country’s audiovisual industry through a prominent feature on the front page of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website. His story was launched during the Sixty-Sixth Series of WIPO Assemblies in Geneva, Switzerland (July 8–17, 2025), marking a milestone for the nation and its creators.
Ravee was selected to represent Maldives in the WIPO initiative “IP from the Ground UP: Virtual Chat” series, an initiative led by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) in collaboration with WIPO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. The project highlights creators across the region, on using intellectual property to safeguard and scale their work.
The Live Chat episode, produced alongside creative producer Shamin Nizam, explores the lived experiences of Maldivian filmmakers navigating copyright, contracts, monetization, and IP protection. Drawing from his career and first-hand knowledge of the local industry, Ravee shares insights on both the challenges and the untapped potential of Maldives’ audiovisual industry. Shamin Nizam’s article is also expected to be published in the WIPO website in the coming months.
The episode, live-streamed via YES TV and distributed globally by WIPO, was inspired by WIPO’s “Rights, Camera, Action!” and “From Script to Screen” initiatives. It brought the Maldivian voice into an international conversation.
The series spans various countries, including Malaysia (music industry), the Philippines (animation industry), South Korea (music industry) and Maldives (audiovisual industry), with further Live Chats to be held in other countries.
Ravee’s inclusion in the WIPO feature underscores not only his individual contribution but also the growing recognition of Maldivian talent on the global stage. This international spotlight supports the Maldives’ national goal, set forth by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to grow the creative and digital economy to contribute 15% of GDP by 2030. It is also a testament to the strategic direction of Minister Mohamed Saeed, whose leadership has prioritized intellectual property reform and global partnerships to strengthen creative industries.
As Maldives works to build a diversified, creative and innovation-driven economy, stories like Ravee’s are not just inspirational, they are foundational.
[1] https://www.wipo.int/en/web/ip-advantage/w/stories/ravee-farooq-maldives-film-industry