Delegates attending the Small Island Developing States Global Business Network (SIDS GBN) Forum 2026 and the Island Investment Forum were given a firsthand look at the Maldivian fisheries sector yesterday, touring key market hubs and value-addition facilities across the Greater Malé region on the final day of the forum.
The exposure tour was jointly organized by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), the Ministry of Fisheries Agriculture and Ocean Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprise. The visit was held to showcase the country's sustainable pole-and-line fishing heritage and industrial value-addition capabilities to visiting international representatives.
During the tour, delegates visited the Malé Fish Market, the Local Travellers’ Market, and MIFCO’s fish processing complex in K. Kanduoiygiri.
At the Malé Fish Market, the delegation observed the daily trade of fresh catch and received briefings on traditional pole-and-line practices, sustainable harvesting methods, and local market operations. The visit to the Travellers’ Market provided insight into local produce arriving from various atolls, highlighting the direct link between local production and island livelihoods.
The tour concluded at MIFCO’s Kanduoiygiri facility, where participants inspected the newly opened industrial fish-drying factory. MIFCO officials walked the delegation through the entire production cycle—from fish procurement and quality control to modern processing, hygiene standards, and final packaging.
Held on the sidelines of the SIDS GBN Forum and Island Investment Forum, which successfully concluded in the Maldives yesterday after running from August 23 to 25, the tour emphasized how blue economy initiatives and high-standard value addition drive economic resilience across island nations.
