Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has begun the production and sale of glass bottled water. The bottle, called Aro, will be the first premium water brand in the Maldives.
The Aro brand was launched by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula at a ceremony held at CROSSROADS Maldives. MWSC stated that the Aro brand water bottles were launched in line with the government's policy to reduce the use of disposable plastics.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director at MWSC Hassan Shah said the bottle is designed to appeal to both locals and tourists. He said that it is a very important step to promote the beauty of the country to tourists and to create awareness to protect and maintain the natural environment in a sustainable manner. He also said that more products of the brand will be launched and Aro will become a brand that can compete with other foreign companies.
During the ceremony, Minister Nahula said that the launch of such a product in the year marking the 50th anniversary of the tourism industry in the Maldives is an added complement to the product. She also said the launch of the product is a good step to avoid disposable plastics.
The glass bottles will be released in a series, and the label in each series will represent the Maldives, according to MWSC. Hence, the brand will be called Maldives in a Bottle and the first series symbolises the natural beauty of the country. MWSC also stated that there are three characteristics that make the bottle different from others. The bottle is being released in glass bottles to help the Maldives move away from single-use plastics. The bottle is a brand that introduces the country, and the label of the bottle is designed by local artists.