A fish purchasing center for the Bodu Thiladhunmathi region will be established in HA. Ihavandhoo, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said.
Speaking at a ceremony held in HA. Dhidhdhoo Tuesday night to officially launch the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry system, President Solih said work on establishing the fish purchasing in Ihavandhoo would begin next year.
The President said Ihavandhoo is one of the most vibrant economies in the area. He said projects that would solve the port and land problems in Ihavandhoo are underway, he said.
"This is an area with many yellowfin tuna fishers. The lack of fish exports from Hanimaadhoo is a deadbolt to the economy. If Hanimaadhoo were opened as the economic gateway to the north, 8,000 tourist beds would be available in this region since long ago," the President said.
The President said the most fundamental reason for the lack of major changes in the Bodu Thiladhuunmathi region was Hanimaadhoo's circumstance. The change will be brought with the current change in Bodu Thiladhuunmathi, he said.
The agreement for the Hanimaadhoo Airport Development Project has now been signed. The project will include a 2.46-km runway and a brand new terminal with a capacity of 1.3 million passengers per year. Other facilities needed to expand international flights will also be established.
The project is scheduled to begin operations later this year and will be completed in 2024.
