The President of the Maldives National Association of Construction Industry (MNACI) Mohamed Ali Janah has attributed delays in infrastructure projects to prolonged waits for dewatering permits.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Construction Industry Forum, Janah highlighted several challenges facing the construction sector. He pointed to difficulties in recruiting labor, securing government-issued permits, and arranging quotas as significant hurdles. According to Janah, the delays in project schedules are largely due to the time it takes to obtain essential permits.
Janah also emphasised the impact of the country's current economic situation on the construction industry. He noted that the scarcity of foreign currency reserves presents a substantial challenge, given the industry's reliance on imported materials. This dependency on foreign currency exacerbates project delays, as funds are often needed to source essential resources from abroad.
In his address, Janah also called for strict measures to combat human trafficking within the construction sector. He stressed that any negative impact on the industry directly affects the nation's economic development and employment levels. Highlighting the critical role of the construction industry in the Maldives' economic and infrastructural growth, Janah urged both industry experts and the government to collaborate on sustainable solutions to enhance the sector.