Government has invested MVR23 million in the past three years under its initiative to develop the cooperative societies active in the Atolls leading to the introduction of 30 local products to the market, fisheries minister Dr Mohamed Shainee revealed Sunday.
Speaking during the ceremony to unveil the locally produced compost 'Inba' developed by the Laamu Farmers Development Cooperative Society, Shainee said president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom since assuming office in 2013 had given special emphasis to enhance the cooperatives in the Maldives.
Under the intiative, the government had invested MVR23 million in the past three years which has resulted in 30 new local products being introduced to the market, the minister explained.
"This is a huge achievement for president Yameen's initiative. The products of the cooperative have been well received. These are products are being sold in local marts and the airport duty free shops," he said.
According to Shainee, though the government's initiative would end in September, the government was looking to secure foreign aid to continue the effort.
Shainee said the success of the cooperatives results in hundreds of jobs in the islands assuring the continued technical assistance of the fisheries ministry to the cooperatives in the future.
