Kendhikulhudhooo Island Council has contracted Hanndhu Investment Private Limited to build a neighbourhood fish processing plant.
The council stated that the construction of the neighbourhood fish processing plant is the biggest project yet for Kendhikulhudhoo, Noonu Atoll. Handhu Investment is tasked with completing the project within 210 days at a cost of USD285,000.
In 2021, the government signed the agreement to develop the Kendhikulhudhoo Fish Processing Plant under India’s grant assistance scheme, the High Impact Community Development Programme (HICDP). These projects are designed as per the priorities of island communities, with most of them being implemented by local councils to enhance their capacities in project execution.
The construction of neighbourhood fish processing plants is an important initiative under the government’s manifesto, and several projects have commenced in various parts of the country such as Addu City and Meemu Atoll. These plants aim to empower residents to generate revenue by processing fish locally, rather than selling them to companies. The processing of fish will also allow for the creation of a range of different fish products, increasing economic opportunities for the local communities.