Private companies are not being excluded from government projects: Saeed

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has today assured private companies are not being excluded from infrastructure and PSIP projects conducted by the government.

Many of the planned PSIP projects for the year are being contracted to State Owned Enterprises. Private companies in the sector have raised concerns that this has led to loss for them, driving them to the point of bankruptcy.

In a press conference held at the President's Office today, Saeed said that in many instances, work on harbour repairs and road development in the atolls come to a halt due to budget constraints.

He said that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's aim is to complete the projects in accordance with his pledges.

"Insinuations on media that the government is excluding the private sector in these works is not entirely correct," Saeed said.

The minister said that contracting SOEs to conduct PSIP projects should not be interpreted as an exclusion of the private sector.

Saeed said that discussions are being held with the Maldives Association for Construction Industries (MACI) and other industry representatives to explore how concerns being raised by the public sector can be best addressed.

Saeed also said that regular meetings are being held with small businesses, with efforts made to address their concerns.