President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Monday announced plans to develop an airport in the island of Bileffahi in Shaviyani Atoll.
He made the announcement at a ceremony to mark the completion of the island's beach protection project.
In his address, Yameen declared that the natural resources of Bileffahi facilitate the way for development, and assured that his administration would make use of such resources.
Highlighting the large, shallow lagoon of the island, Yameen vowed that his government would develop an airport there, which would make Bileffahi "the most flourishing and prosperous island in [Shaviyani] atoll".
The president assured that job opportunities and other advantages would come with the airport, establishing the island of 400 residents as the main tourism hub in the region.
Yameen went on to reveal that a foreign firm had recently expressed interest in developing the airport in Bileffahi, but did not disclose further details. However, he stated that the Ministry of Tourism would work with them on the project, and that tourism minister Moosa Zameer would visit Bileffahi with representatives of the foreign company next week.
Meanwhile land reclamation has already been completed to develop an airport in Funadhoo in the same atoll.
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