Minister Shiyam Meets Maavashu Council to Discuss Upgrading Capacity of Planned Ice Plant

Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam today met with the L. Maavashu Council to discuss expanding the production capacity of the island's forthcoming ice plant, according to the Ministry.

The official meeting, held at the Ministry headquarters, focused on enhancing the infrastructure previously initiated for the island. In October 2025, the Ministry awarded the establishment of the L. Maavashu ice plant to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s official visit to Laamu Atoll. That initial agreement outlined the construction of a 10-tonne ice plant paired with a 20-tonne cold storage facility to support local reef and tuna fishermen across the region.

Building on that baseline project, today's discussions centered on scaling up the plant's capacity beyond the original 10-tonne design to keep pace with growing demand from the local fleet.

According to the Fisheries Ministry, the meeting also explored broader economic opportunities across the island’s fisheries and agricultural sectors, including concrete steps toward establishing an agroforestry farming project in Maavashu.

The meeting was attended by State Minister Mohamed Muththalib, senior officials from the Ministry, as well as the President and members of the L. Maavashu Council.