Overdue Hoandedhhoo ice plant to be operationalised this year

The long overdue cold storage facility being developed in Gdh. Hoandedhhoo will be operationalised within this year, said Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam.

During his visit to Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls alongside the president last week, the minister told Mihaaru that significant effort and investment have gone into establishing the cold storage facility on the plot issued to Horizon Fisheries in 2005.

However, there are concerns associated with the facility not being operational by now, he said.

The Fisheries Ministry initially leased 13 hectares of land to Horizon Fisheries in 2005 for a 35-year period at a rate of 15 Laari per square foot. While Horizon Fisheries, owned by Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, continues to pay rent for the land, Hoandedhhoo Council believes the rent is much too small. Instead, they have proposed increasing the rate to 20-60 Laari.

Minister Shiyam also highlighted that the local community has not benefitted from the facility’s services due to its current status. Because of this, the government is now looking into the possibility of bringing the cold storage facility into operation later this year, he added.

"It would be better for the fishermen in the area and those seeking job opportunities to make the facility operational rather than cancelling the agreement and render it unusable. It can be operationalised with a little effort. We're looking to fishing it somehow within the year," the minister said.

He acknowledged the limited number of private companies involved in the fishing industry, explaining that the government’s goal is to foster a favourable environment for private sector participation.

The minister added that foreign investors have expressed interest in expanding fish processing capacities even in the recent announcement, a move he attributed to the president’s efforts to create a supportive climate for the fishing industry.

" [The president] has created a favourable environment within the fisheries sector. [The president] wants it [the cold storage] to be operationalised," Shiyam said.

He also said that an independent evaluation of the cold storage facility, has been conducted via Horizon Fisheries. This has provided insights to guide discussions with external stakeholders and improve operations, he said.