A large amount of machinery has been brought to the Maldives to accelerate infrastructure development.
The machinery was procured under an agreement signed in February between the Road Development Corporation (RDC) and Chinese companies XCMG and Infrastructure Development Solution (IDS). A formal handover ceremony was held on the industrial island of Thilafushi on 2 April.
While delivering this year’s Presidential Statement, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had said more resources would be brought to the Maldives before the end of April to enable development projects to be carried out simultaneously across multiple islands at low cost and using domestic capacity. In line with this, the companies have supplied 230 units of machinery.
In addition to supplying the machinery, the two Chinese companies will also set up a repair service centre as well as establish a spare parts centre in the Maldives. The initiative is expected to speed up development and provide a long-term solution to infrastructure challenges.
In the Presidential Statement, the President also said the government was working to expedite development projects as well addressing the high cost of renting machinery, which contributes to high project costs.
He said the machinery will be deployed to key areas, including Gulhifalhu, with the aim of commencing water and electricity connections as well as road development in Gulhifalhu by May this year. Once Giraavarufalhu dredging is completed, an additional set of machinery will be mobilised to the area, with utility works expected to begin by mid-year.
Part of utility works will be handed over to the Maldives Transport Contracting Company (MTCC) and RDC.
Additionally, a China-funded road redevelopment project in Male’ and Villimale’ will begin design work early this year, and start implementation later in the year.
Multiple infrastructure projects are ongoing nationwide, including road construction, utility network development as well as land reclamation and building works.