State fisheries firm Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO has the potential to become profitable and establish it as a leading company in the country’s fisheries industry, MIFCO’s newly appointed CEO, Brigadier General (Rtd) Farhath Shaheer has said.
Farhath was appointed as the new CEO of MIFCO on Wednesday. Farhath Shaheer’s appointment follows the dismissal of Dr Vitaliy Lyubimov, MIFCO’s first foreign CEO and Managing Director, earlier on Monday.
Speaking to PSM News, Farhath expressed belief that if sustainable development is brought to the fisheries sector, the industry can return to being the number one industry in the Maldives.
Despite numerous challenges, Farhath remains confident that he will be able to turn around MIFCO’s current fortunes and with the assistance of all industry stakeholders realise his ambitions for the company.
"Important steps need to be taken very soon to recover from our current situation. We have to make very tough decisions. If these are done, we are confident that the company will become a leading and profitable company in fisheries in the Maldives," he said.
Farhath brings with him a wealth of experience and education from his distinguished military career.
He holds a degree in Military Stars and a Masters degree in Military Art and Science from the Indonesian Military College.
Farhath has served in several senior positions in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) since joining in 1986. He was serving as the Vice Chief of Defence Force when he retired in 2012 after 26 years in military service.
He has since served as Chairman of the National Drug Control Board and CEO of the main government hospital, IGMH. During his tenure as IGMH’s CEO, many new services were introduced and the hospital underwent major mordernisation at the time.