Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail has revealed that the first port city in the Maldives will be built in the northernmost region. He made the statement in a letter sent to the Parliament of the Maldives to answer inquiries on the progress of the transshipment port development project in Haa Alifu Atoll.
In the letter, Minister Fayyaz said that the government is currently focused on developing the port city and that preparations have been made to reclaim land for the project. He said that the port city will consist of services such as crew changing, bunkering, and supplying.
Additionally, Minister Fayyaz said that the development of the port city is part of the efforts to introduce services for cargo ships travelling in the northernmost region until the transshipment port is developed. As such, he said that the ministry is in the process of amending the relevant policies in order to introduce the services. He also said crew changing and bunkering will be the first services to be introduced, noting that State Trading Organisation (STO) is obtaining investments and signing agreements with oil companies to commence the bunkering service.
The government is seeking parties to develop an international transshipment port in Haa Alifu Atoll under a public-private partnership. The port is being developed to cater to the largest cargo ships in the world, with a handling capacity of 1.8 million containers per year, and an investment of USD466 million will be needed for the project.