The long-awaited Hankede Integrated Tourism Development Project officially broke ground on Monday evening in Addu City. The ceremony was officiated by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Managing Director of the Maldives Fund Management Corporation (MFMC) Ahmed Nazim Aboobakur, and a representative from the project’s contractor, China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC).
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ihusaan noted that discussions for the project began as far back as 2008. He assured attendees that physical work on the project will commence within the next two weeks.
“This project holds the promise of 20,082 new beds, creating an estimated 1,986 job opportunities,” Ihusaan stated. He emphasized President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision for the project, highlighting its focus on regional progress and its potential to boost Addu City’s economy, particularly in the wholesale, retail, and food and beverage sectors.
The Hankede Integrated Tourism Development Project was originally contracted to CHEEC in March 2023. The Maldives Fund Management Corporation (MFMC) has presented the initiative as unique, featuring the development of 1,041 rooms.
The Hankede project aligns with the previous government’s designation of Kaafu atoll Gaafarufalhu for integrated tourism, a decision formalized by a presidential decree in December 2021.
