Gadhdhoo Island Council has contracted Sri Lanka-based Slick Lanka Private Limited to develop the neighbourhood fish processing plant. The agreement signing ceremony was graced by Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussein Rasheed Hassan, with Parliamentarian Ahmed Zahir and senior ministry officials.
Gadhdhoo Island Council stated that the development of the fish processing plant is a USD5 million investment and that 60% of the employees at the facility will be Maldivians. The council stated that the project consists of the development of a state-of-the-art system for processing and exporting fish, which will be able to package 50,000 cans of fish per day. The project also includes the development of a 25MT block ice plant and a 10 tonne flake ice plant, the installation of 100 tonnes of cold storage and blast freezer, and the development of a fish meal plant.
Gadhdhoo Council stated that the project will benefit the residents of the island and bring positive changes to the economy. The council estimates that the fieldwork will begin within 12 months.