Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, has announced that the Maldivian government is working to strengthen partnerships with Singapore’s institutions and private sector to boost growth in the fisheries and mariculture industries.
In an interview with state media outlet Public Service Media (PSM), the minister detailed his strategy following last week’s Maldives–Singapore Business Forum held in Singapore.
According to PSM, Minister Shiyam confirmed that the government shared comprehensive project information with potential Singaporean stakeholders, showcasing a broad range of investment opportunities. He emphasised that mariculture remains a national priority under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration and stated that related proposals are regularly tabled at high-level discussions, including those chaired by the president.
As part of the official visit to Singapore, President Muizzu met with the country’s president and prime minister to present his vision for the development of the Maldives’ fisheries sector. Minister Shiyam said the president remains confident in the potential for strong bilateral cooperation in advancing the industry.
During his visit, Minister Shiyam also met with Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and Environment, where he shared updates on the Maldives’ fisheries initiatives and outlined the president’s development plans. He noted Singapore’s interest in exploring collaborative opportunities and stated that he intends to build on this momentum in the coming months.
The minister observed that, while Singapore is not a major fishing nation, it has a growing commercial interest in both traditional fisheries and mariculture, and relies heavily on seafood imports. He confirmed that investment opportunities in mariculture were presented to prospective Singaporean partners, aligning with President Muizzu’s efforts to expand the sector across several regions in the Maldives.
As part of broader efforts to diversify the industry, Minister Shiyam revealed plans to introduce designated zones for sports fishing harbours. The initiative aims to link recreational fishing with tourism, creating new economic avenues and enhancing the Maldives’ tourism portfolio.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to sectoral development, the minister said future progress would be driven through partnerships with both public and private entities in Singapore. He noted that Singapore already imports Maldivian tuna and sea cucumbers and expressed interest in expanding this trade. He added that all joint initiatives will be structured to deliver direct benefits to Maldivian fishing communities.
