Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said the canning factory project in Fiyoaree, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, will make Fiyoaree the island with the most number of employment opportunities in the atoll.
Speaking at the ceremony held to launch the land reclamation and harbour construction for the new fish canning factory in Fiyoaree, the Minister expressed concern over the employment situation in the island, noting that the island has very limited employment, with most jobs confined to government offices. However, the establishment of the fish canning factory will bring about positive changes to the situation, he said.
The Minister said although Fiyoaree was historically a fishing island with active fishing boats, today there are no fishing vessels there. The project aims to revive the local economy and re-establish Fiyoaree as a hub for fishing and related industries, he said.
Touching on population and migration impact, the Minister said the project is expected to attract people from other islands and bring back former residents residing elsewhere. While Fiyoaree is located far from an airport, the Minister acknowledged challenges and limitations in expanding local tourism on the island.
To address this, the government aims to strengthen the fishing industry to compensate for this and boost local economic development, he added.