President Confident in Fulfilling Promise to Buy Raw Fish at MVR 20 per Kilo

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has expressed confidence that his presidential pledge to set the purchasing price of raw fish at MVR 20 per kilo, reflecting global market changes, will be fulfilled.

The President made these remarks while answering a journalist's question regarding whether the promise to buy fish at the MVR 20 rate had been fulfilled, during a press conference held today at the President's Office.

The President stated that to reach the point of setting the purchasing price of raw fish at MVR 20 per kilo, a free market must be allowed. He noted that the pledges concerning the fisheries sector are part of a comprehensive arrangement. He explained that buying fish at MVR 20 per kilo from fishermen will be possible once payments for the fish are issued promptly within 48 hours, ice and fuel are readily available, and the fishing industry begins to function efficiently. Once all these arrangements are in place, the President assured that the target will be reached, and he remains confident that this and other promises made to fishermen will be fulfilled.

"With cold storages, processing plants, STO fuel skids, and the resulting progress in the fishing industry, it will be easier for me to fulfill that promise [buying fish at the MVR 20 rate]," the President said.

During the first session of today's press conference, while sharing updates on government projects with journalists, the President mentioned that his pledges include increasing cold storage capacity, with the hope of tripling it.

"When we took over, there was 2,500 tonnes of storage. We aim to increase that amount by about three times. My promise was to double it, but currently, if the planned work proceeds well, the plan is to expand cold storage to 25,000 tonnes. Expanding cold storage is an achievable target," the President stated.

The President noted that the processing capacity has so far been at 50 tonnes per day. He added that projects are underway to increase this capacity to 250 tonnes. Furthermore, work on ice plants to increase ice production capacity by an additional 500 tonnes is ongoing, and these projects are proceeding as planned.

Additionally, he highlighted that the project to ensure fishermen can obtain fuel at affordable prices is also progressing as planned. The President stated that by the end of March next year, arrangements will be made for fuel to be available at STO's base rate in at least one location in every atoll across the Maldives.