The Maldives, the South Asian archipelago republic in the midst of political upheaval which is drawing international attention, on Monday kicked off a weeklong search for a global PR agency to counter negative press coverage.
Mohamed Nasheed, a political activist previously jailed in the country, won election in 2008 as a reformer but resigned in February after large street protests over the ouster of a top judge. Its foreign minister raised eyebrows April 6 when she said the country will not hold elections “in the foreseeable future” because the government was too weak for such a process.
Vice President Mohammad Hassan took power on Nasheed’s resignation in the country, which uses an Islamic religious legal system and forbids open practice of any other religion.
The Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation released an RFP April 9 with an April 14 deadline for an agency to work on an initial three-month assignment to “instill confidence” in the country’s key tourism industry, “gain understanding and public acknowledgement of the Maldives from the international community,” and in general improve its image.
The scope of work calls for strategic comms. counsel to the government, message and storybook development, media outreach, and “shareholder mapping” and engagement.
The country’s archipelago is spread over 35,000 square miles but it is the smallest Asian country by area and population.
Nasheed, the president who resigned, is the subject of a documentary being released on April 13 focused on his crusade to get the international community to recognize the therat of climate change to the low-lying nation. The film, “The Island President,” drew solid reviews on the film festival circuit last fall.
View the RFP (PDF).