Work has commenced on the establishment of a Bonded Zone for the storage of essential food items, free of duty charge at the Hithadhoo commercial port in Addu City. This is a key development project announced by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
A special ceremony was held in Hithadhoo, Addu City to inaugurate special facilities at Hithadhoo Ports Limited (HPL). The facilities were inaugurated by the Minister of Economic Development, Mohamed Saeed.
An agreement was signed to inaugurate 3 key services at the port. These are Bonded zone facilities for storage of essential food items, Bonded warehousing facilities and Bulk cargo facilities. The agreement was signed by Economic Minister Saeed on behalf on the Ministry of Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Mohamed Rishwan.
With the commencement of this service, goods clearing fees will be reduced and businesses in the southern region of the Maldives will have the importing goods closer to the base of operations, as per HPL. The company also noted that these services will not only benefit Hithadhoo, but the wider economy of southern atolls. HPL also noted that this will have a reverberating positive impact on the const6ruction sector of the southern region.
Hithadhoo Regional Ports which commenced its operations 20 years back is the main port of operations for the southern region, operating under MPL. The port plays a key role in the economic and trade development in the region.