Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has extended an invitation to Chinese investors in a bid to bolster Maldives' mariculture industry. The call for investment was made during a meeting with Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), in Kunming, Yunnan province, China.
Minister Shiyam, currently accompanying Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, is attending the third China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation. During the meeting with CIDCA Chairman Luo, Minister Shiyam highlighted the efforts of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's administration to promote and develop the mariculture industry, highlighting the growth potential in this industry.
The opportunity to invest in the Maldives' mariculture industry is open to Chinese investors, he said, adding that there is ample room for growth in the industry.
The President Dr Muizzu's administration has identified four locations across the country for the development of the mariculture industry, according to Minister Shiyam. Investments are vital for the development of these regions, he noted, highlighting the need for capacity building and human resources development in the mariculture field.
During the meeting, Minister Shiyam discussed the ongoing efforts by President Dr Muizzu’s administration to enhance the fishery sector. These efforts include increasing fish processing capacity and promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing practices, he added.
Minister Shiyam also highlighted the close and historic ties between the Maldives and China, underscoring that these relations are based on mutual respect for sovereignty. He expressed his hope for further strengthening and enhancing relations between the two nations in the future.
The third China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation, co-hosted by the Maldives and organised by CIDCA, is being held from 15 to 17 December under the theme "The Future of the Blue Indian Ocean Development, Practice of the Global South."