Translated from an article by Ismail Naseer, Editor at Mihaaru, reporting from Dubai.
One Dubai businessman who attend the Invest Maldives Forum in Dubai brought up an interesting point. He said that he had no wish to invest the money he earns through the oil trade in Maldives' tourism.
"It's always opportunities to build resorts that come up in the Maldives," he told media.
"However, now we are getting opportunities in many different industries. Health and various other sectors. Hence, this forum has really piqued my interest," he said.
It was not solely for the tourism industry that Maldives invited attendees for yesterday's Invest Maldives Forum in Dubai. Instead, opportunities were offered to investors to get involved in the implementation of this administration's pledges and the future of Maldives. As President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated, these are major projects that cannot be implemented unless with the aid of large investments.
The invitation file presented by Maldives at yesterday's forum mainly included ambitious projects. Included significantly among these were projects that offered key opportunities for investors, and the options for participating in development projects which would ultimately benefit both parties.
Senior officials of the government emphasized at the forum yesterday that the Maldives' currently presents an environment which is conducive towards, and will provide multiple opportunities for, foreign investors. They emphasized that the time is ideal for investing in various industries in Maldives.
Invitations were issued for businesses to join in major projects in 18 development and economic areas that the government aims to undertake. These include:
- Giraavaru/Thilafushi Link : Development of a bridge spanning approximately 1km joining the two islands, construction of roads, construction of port
- Promoting tourism in islands under the Cross Subsidy Policy : Leasing islands and lagoons to run private islands and resorts under the Tourism Act and the Cross Subsidy Policy
- Maldives Economic Gateway : several subprojects related to the larger project the government is undertaking in Ihavandhippolhu (Haa Alif Atoll)
- SEZ : Investors are being sought from 9 sectors and will be offered special incentives
- Velana International Airport Phase 3 : An invitation to undertake a project to build a brand new large scale airport
- RasMale' : Building 65,000 housing units in RasMale' (to be established in Fushidhiggarufalhu), build roads, build office complexes, business complexes, establish a transport system, develop parks, and establish other services on the island
- Housing Project : Constructing 70,000 housing units under a Contractor Financing Policy. This includes 30,000 housing units in RasMale', 20,000 housing units in the southernmost four atolls, and 20,000 housing units in the northernmost four atolls
- Airport Construction : Establishing domestic airports in 15 regions in the upcoming 2 to 3 years
- Male' Commercial Port : Establishing the Thilafushi Port and providing international standard services
- Establishing a high-end resort with a word class hospitality school : This is to be done through contract financing policy or PPP model
- Thinadhoo/Kaadehdhoo Link Project : Building a 3.3 km road to connect Thinadhoo and Kaadehdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
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