Home Minister Umar Naseer said that oil exploration is part of the many projects to be carried under i-Havan project to be developed in Ihavandhippolhu area.
He made the statement in the key note address delivered in the awarding ceremony held in HA. Dhihdhoo last night.
Minister Umar said that i-Havan project was a project that will change the outlook of the entire nation, creating many jobs and benefitting the public.
He noted that the consultants of the project had said that the project requires a threshold population of 14,000 people, adding that this was key factor the public should take into account. The Minister added that a large threshold population was essential to every mega project and advised the public to think along those lines.
Minister Umar noted that half of the islands in the country is made up of populations under 600 people. This, the Minister noted added to a huge cost incurred by the Government. In spite of this, Minister Umar said that the GDP for the country was higher than that of many nations in the region. He added that the Government wished to increase this figure in the next 20 to 30 years.
Umar remarked that in Singapore, GDP is at US $55,000, while in Australia this figure is at US $65,000. He added that the Government wished to raise the figure to these levels.