Official works of constructing a bottling factory at H.Dh. Kulhudhuffushi has commenced on Sunday.
The project is an initiative by Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) and Island Beverages Maldives (IBM).
At a special ceremony held at Kulhudhuffushi, the work of bottling factory was officially started by Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu along with Managing Director of MWSC and IBM, Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed and General Manager Mohamed Shifaq.
While speaking at the ceremony, Rasheed had highlighted bottling factories have been generally located in greater Male' region making it difficult for citizens in various atolls to acquire bottled water, that too for relatively expensive prices. However with the inception of a bottling factory in Kulhudhuffushi, both Haa Dhaal and Haa Alif atoll citizens would be benefited in purchasing bottled water at the same price as capital.
The factory is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2018, creating not less than 15 to 20 new employment opportunities. Meanwhile interested parties will receive opportunity to become distribution agents across the atolls.
IBM's Managing Director explained the new factory will produce bottles in the range of 330ml, 500ml and 1.5liter while a 5 liter line is expected to be added by third quarter of 2018. The factory will hold the capacity of mass producing 10,000 bottles per hour while the intended addition of 5 liter will exclusively generate 2,000 bottles of the range per hour.
IBM will be investing a projected amount of MVR 30 million for the project.
Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu specified the new factory at Kulhudhuffushi will hold a production capacity twice that of its Male' counterpart factories. He also highlighted the direct and indirect benefits Haa Dhaal and Haa Alif atoll would receive through the factory.
Dr. Muizzu had focused the development of Kulhudhuffushi airport as well as the bottling factory will benefit the island's economy and would become essential in the success of tourism in the area.
