The Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs, on Monday, urged the government to permit regional ports to provide the services extended from Male' Commercial Harbour in the event that the capital is placed under lockdown again.
The committee compiled its report after parliamentary representative for Addu's Hithadhoo Central constituency, Mohamed Rasheed submitted a petition calling on the government to allow regional ports to conduct the same economic activities as the central port if travel restrictions are implemented over Male'.
The petition was submitted amidst the lockdown imposed over the capital city of Male' to curb the spread of COVID-19. The phased easing of restrictions commenced while the committee was researching the petition.
- Permit full economic activities in three regions of Maldives
- Implement 50 percent duty cuts on goods imported from regional ports
- Provision of technical and financial assistance to promote agriculture
- Increasing storage facilities and providing additional opportunities to promote the fisheries industry
According to the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, several of the points raised in the report are included in its decentralization plan.
The planning ministry has also stated that arrangements concerning the functioning of local and commercial ports as well as the storage of essential goods are included in the plan.
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