Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, Mohamed Aslam in parliament on Monday revealed that the Maldivian government have no plans to hand over operation of airports to foreign companies.
Minister Aslam attended the parliament on Monday to answer a questions by Kendhoo MP Ali Hussein regarding certain projects in his constituency.
At the session, Manadhoo MP Ahmed Haaroon asked the Minister why the operation of Maafaru International Airport was handed over to Island Aviation Services as opposed to the company that developed the airport. The airport was developed by a Singaporean company and funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Abu Dhabi Fund of US$ 60 million.
In response to MP Haaroon's question, Minister Aslam said that recent years clearly revealed how much Maldivian citizens object to the idea of a foreign companies operating airports. The government's policy is not to handover operation of airports to foreign companies, Aslam said.
"Our experience revealed that Maldivian citizens express fear when foreign companies take reign of our airports. It is for this reason we have concluded that people are not supportive towards the prospect, and established a policy where local companies operate the airports instead", said Aslam.
The Minister further stated that policies are developed and adopted in accordance to the ever-changing condition of the country. The current condition calls for the airports to be operated by local companies as opposed to foreign companies, he said.
Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir opposed the minister's response, stating that one failure does not mean the strategy should be given up all together.
Jabir's comment was in reference to former President Mohamed Nasheed's move to hand over the operation of Velana International Airport (VIA) to Indian company GMR during his administration. Minister Aslam was the Housing Minister at the time.
However, the agreement was dismissed by subsequent President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, for which the state had to pay the company MVR 4 million as arbitration.
GMR controlling operation at VIA did not sit well with the country's citizens, with scores, including the opposition and citizens alike criticizing the decision. Maldivian airports must be operated by local companies, it was said then.
