Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has said the redevelopment project of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport is one of the largest investments ever to be conducted outside the Greater Male' Region.
In a tweet, Minister Ameer said the project will revolutionise the economy of northernmost atolls as well as the entire country. The minister said the development being brought by the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in various sectors and islands in the Maldives is bigger and more comprehensive than in previous years despite the challenges facing the global economy.
The project to redevelop Hanimaadhoo International Airport has been awarded to JMC Projects at a cost of USD136 million. The project to redevelop Hanimaadhoo lnternational Airport is being funded by loan assistance from the EXIM Bank of India and includes major infrastructure and operational upgrades and building infrastructure to meet the future growth of traffic to the Maldives. It includes developing a 2.46km runway to enable larger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land at the airport. It also includes the construction of a modern terminal to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually, as well as the construction of a cargo terminal, fuel farms, and a fire station.
The government has said the completion of the project will result in an increase in tourist arrivals in the northern atolls, which will result in more job opportunities and benefit local businesses. The government has stated that one of the biggest challenges facing the development of tourism in the north of Maldives is the lack of direct flights to the region carrying tourists from all over the world and the high cost of transportation required to visit the region.
The government believes that the completion of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project will greatly facilitate the expansion of tourism by increasing the number of resorts, city hotels, and guesthouses. The project is expected to increase business and employment opportunities in the northern provinces. The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport will also play an important role in implementing the government's plans to establish a modern maritime hub in the north of the country that will provide services to large cargo ships travelling along the main shipping routes of the world.