Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee has stated that the administration’s efforts to install ice plant in all atolls is on the verge of completion.
Speaking on PSM News's talk show “Maldives Today”, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee said that only a few ice plants were installed in a limited amount of atolls when President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom assumed office back in 2013. He said that currently the government aims to create a well-managed network to provide ice for all Maldivian fishermen.
Dr. Shainee stated that the current administration had a vision to change this scenario by installing at least one ice plant in each atoll. Noting that this target is just a few steps away from completion, Minister Shainee cited that the last ice plants would arrive in Maldives within two months.
The Fisheries Minister revealed that the government aims to create a well-managed network to provide ice for all Maldivian fishermen. He stated that currently technical work on finalizing the most effective model for this project is progressing at a fast pace.
"We have 2 models. 1 model is an innovative new model which is in the testing phase. We have learnt some lessons, our crew are onboard and we are trying to enhance the capacity of the ice plants," Minister Shainee said.
Addressing the project on establishing four new canneries in four regions of the country, Minister Shainee stated that the core objective of this project is to add value to the fish exports of Maldives. On this note Minister Shainee stated that this project also aims to facilitate the provision of additional employment opportunities for locals. Minister Shainee highlighted that these canneries add value to Maldivian fish exports by packing and delivering these products to the global market as a premium quality products of Maldives.
"No one in the world can sell so premium a dish as Maldives because we have all the right certificates such as fair trade, dolphin free certificate, one-by-one certificate. There is no fisheries industry in the world which is as exclusive and as sustainable as Maldives," Minister Shainee said.
Maldives is a nation that is highly dependent on the fisheries sector. Fishing is the lifeblood of Maldives and also the second highest contributor to the country’s economy.