Male' City Council has commenced work to establish markets for small businesses run by women.
Male' City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said the purpose of the markets is to empower women by allowing them to showcase and sell homemade products. The council aims to establish women's markets in various parts of the Greater Male' Region before the month of Ramadan.
Mayor Muizzu said the council will be hiring a team to handle the operation of the market, adding that all aspects of the market will be handled by Maldivian women. He said the markets will be open in Male' City and Villimale' to provide women the opportunity to gain an income from their homemade products.
The number of small businesses and homemade products in the Maldives increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has also facilitated loans for small businesses through the SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC), with a category allocated specifically for female-owned SMEs.