The government has reiterated its commitment to revitalising the fishing industry, with a focus on enabling local fishermen to set competitive prices for their products in international markets. Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam made this announcement during a ceremony celebrating the award of a government loan scheme for installing Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) systems on fishing vessels.
The event also included the awarding of a contract to a foreign company for the establishment of a 4,000-tonne cold storage facility at the Kooddoo Fisheries Complex. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernise the sector, improve the quality of fish products, and enhance the industry’s competitiveness globally.
Minister Shiyam acknowledged that the fishing sector has been grappling with long-standing challenges that have persisted for nearly five decades. He attributed these ongoing issues to a reliance on temporary fixes rather than addressing the root causes. He assured that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration is committed to implementing long-term strategies to tackle these challenges.
In his speech, the minister outlined President Muizzu’s vision to lower operational costs for fishermen while increasing their revenue. The development of cold storage facilities and processing factories is expected to improve the quality of fish exports, enabling Maldivian fishermen to secure better prices in foreign markets.
Minister Shiyam also emphasised that the current administration’s efforts to modernise the fishing industry are unparalleled. He highlighted the swift implementation of several key initiatives aimed at revitalising the sector, which he believes sets the current government apart from its predecessors.
