President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited Dhuvaafaru, Raa Atoll, to inaugurate a series of development projects and mark the completion of key infrastructure initiatives, underscoring his administration’s focus on fisheries, housing, governance and environmental sustainability.
As part of the visit, the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) began physical work on the expansion of the Dhuvaafaru harbour. The project, inaugurated by Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib, is intended to ease logistical challenges for the fishing industry.
The administration also advanced urban development through an agreement with the Housing Development Corporation to construct 50 housing units on the island.
To strengthen basic services, the Malé Water and Sewerage Company was contracted to establish water and sewerage networks on reclaimed land. MTCC simultaneously secured the contract for the third phase of Dhuvaafaru’s road construction project.
In a bid to reinforce local governance, the government launched construction of a new police station, overseen by Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan and executed by MTCC. Financial services were modernised with the inauguration of a Maldives Islamic Bank ATM, offering round-the-clock deposit and withdrawal facilities for residents and businesses.
Addressing the economic needs of the fisheries sector, Muizzu inaugurated the nation’s first State Trading Organization (STO) fuel shed, designed to provide affordable fuel for bigeye tuna fishermen. The government has pledged to establish similar facilities in at least one island per atoll by next March, fulfilling a commitment to reduce operational costs for the fishing fleet through subsidised STO rates.
The president and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed joined the launch of a nationwide initiative to plant five million trees, the largest reforestation programme in the country’s history. The effort prioritises the restoration of 90 endangered plant species and aims to plant two million saplings by year’s end, reinforcing the Maldives’ commitment to preserving its fragile ecosystem.