Thinadhoo Island Council has stated that a private contractor has been hired to build a 25-tonne fish processing plant as part of the work to develop the private sector in the island.
The plant will be built on a land plot spanning 230,000sqft in Thinadhoo’s industrial zone. The contractor is tasked with building a plant with a cold storage capacity of 1,500 tonnes of fish at a cost of USD13 million. The plant is expected to create 150 jobs and expand the local fisheries sector. Currently, a total of 17 boats in Thinadhoo are dedicated to fishing.
Speaking to PSM News, President of Thinadhoo Island Council Saud Ali said the project was opened for bidding as part of the work to expand local business activity and that Azzrova Maldives Private Limited has been hired to complete the project under a design-and-build policy. He added that the company will also be tasked with operating the fish processing plant upon completion.
Furthermore, Council President Saud expressed confidence that the fish processing plant and the government’s project to build a regional port in Thinadhoo will increase business opportunities, especially in fish exports. He said the plant will become the largest fish processing facility to be established in an inhabited island in the Maldives, and will directly benefit local residents in terms of job opportunities.