Agro National Corporation Private Limited (AgroNat) has stated that it will begin using its own vessels in mid-2023.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director Haroon Rasheed said work is underway to design and build two boats, noting the funds for the project have been secured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He said the vessels will become operational in 2023 in order to transport agricultural equipment and resources to the islands and to market products in resorts.
The biggest challenge faced in the Maldives due to the geographical dispersion of the islands is the difficulties in transporting goods from one island to another. AgroNat stated that it is currently using regular cargo vessels with inadequate means of storage, which makes it challenging for the company to control and monitor its transport, noting that agricultural products are fragile. By using its own vessels, AgroNat will be able to establish a permanent system to safely transport the produce.