Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has announced that the funds required to expand the capacity of the Addu Fisheries Complex (AFC) have been secured.
The Minister made the statement while responding to a question posed by Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi (MDP) during today's parliamentary sitting.
The Minister was summoned to Parliament today to answer MP Ahmed Didi's question regarding the Addu City Fisheries Complex. In his question, MP Ahmed Didi asked the Minister to clarify when the work would begin, noting that expanding the capacity of the Addu City Fisheries Complex is a pledge of the current administration and a pressing need for fishermen.
In response, Minister Shiyam stated that the expansion of AFC's capacity has been included in the development works planned for the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), and that the necessary funds for the project were secured last week. Although he mentioned that the funds were arranged through the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), he did not disclose the exact amount. The Minister added that the capacity expansion work at AFC is expected to begin early next year.
"God willing, this work will commence in early 2025 and will be completed by late 2025 or early 2026," the Minister said.
Currently, AFC has a storage capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes of fish, with a brine freezing capacity of 50 tonnes. The Minister stated today that with the newly secured funds, an additional 1,000 metric tonnes of cold storage and 50 tonnes of brine freezing capacity will be added to AFC. Once the project is completed, AFC will be developed to store up to 2,500 metric tonnes of fish, and its brine freezing capacity will increase to 100 tonnes.
