FAO to Open an Office in the Maldives

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, has assured assistance in further developing the fisheries industry by establishing an FAO office in the Maldives.

The FAO Director-General gave this assurance during discussions held with Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam on the sidelines of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) currently underway in Nice, France.

During this meeting, the two officials held extensive discussions regarding the establishment of a special FAO office in the Maldives, with FAO Director-General Qu giving full assurance of his support to open an FAO office and further advance and develop the fisheries industry in the Maldives.

Furthermore, the two officials discussed areas where they could work together collaboratively. In this regard, they discussed assisting in the formulation of a comprehensive maritime law and expanding investments in mariculture.

At the meeting, Minister Shiyam noted the assistance being provided by the FAO and expressed his gratitude. Minister Shiyam also expressed his appreciation for the FAO's support in implementing the anchored FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) project launched in the Maldives with the organization's assistance.