Addu to have a free zone; open international fish hub

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has announced plans to develop an international fish hub – open to foreign investors – at the port area in Addu City.

In a press briefing on Saturday, MPL’s chief executive officer Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim said the company will establish a freezone in Addu and build an international fish hub there.

Highlighting on the delays in payments to fishermen – which recently resulted in strikes – Wajeeh said that resolving such issues require innovative solutions – such as the establishment of a free zone in the southern city of Addu.

“It will attract major international fisheries companies here. They will come and open factories, process the fish there, and then export it across the world,” he said.

Wajeeh noted that is major project – and one that requires multiple changes to implement.

He added that the MPL has also finished preparations to launch container cargo airfreight and export services. Wajeeh said the service will launch “soon.”

Wajeeh also said that MPL is also engaged in efforts to relocate the Male’ Commercial Port to Thilafushi.