Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) Adil Moosa has stated the annual revenue generated from Velana International Airport (VIA) has increased to USD 65 million, compared to USD 974,190 generated as annual revenue when VIA was run by India-based GMR Group.
Addressing the ceremony held to inaugurate the new runway at VIA, Managing Director Adil Moosa noted VIA generated an annual revenue of USD 13 million before GMR took over the operations. He said the slack down caused a negative impact to the economy of the country.
Moreover, Adil Moosa noted the efforts of the government to attract 7.5 million tourists to Maldives per year, highlighting the real pioneer of the current development endeavours is President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. In this regard, he expressed the one billion US dollar expansion project of VIA was initiated by the visionary agenda of the president.
Noting the previous governments spent roughly USD 95 million to develop the main gateway of Maldives, Adil Moosa added, within the short period of five years, the current government has initiated a rapid transformation of VIA and has secured the necessary funds to conduct the expansion project. Responding to the criticism the government or MACL will not be able to repay the loans, Adil said international financial partners and parties would not approve loans that would not be paid and added researches would be done before grants enormous figures as loans.
Furthermore, speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of MACL stated, upon completion, Maldives will have one of the most advanced airports in the whole region, with the latest facilities and services established at VIA.