Efforts are currently underway to open retail stores in the most heavily populated islands across the country, Hamid Nazeem, the chief operating officer of the state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), announced in an interview with PSM News. The initiative is part of a broader mandate by the enterprise, which plays a pivotal role in the nation’s fishing industry.
The company is actively working to establish logistical arrangements to ensure its products are easily accessible to the public, Hamid noted, adding that beyond the capital city of Malé, the expansion heavily prioritises establishing storefronts within cities and other islands with substantial populations across the atolls.
"Our strategic vision is to establish MIFCO retail stores across the highly populated islands of the Maldives, ensuring our products are provided to the general public both affordably and conveniently," Hamid stated.
The company's first regional outlet in the atolls was inaugurated in the Hithadhoo district of Addu City this past May, establishing a framework for citizens to acquire products easily and at favourable prices. "Recently, we inaugurated a MIFCO storefront in Hithadhoo, Addu [City]," Hamid said.
This domestic expansion coincides with parallel efforts to organise the availability of MIFCO products in foreign countries where Maldivians commonly reside. In alignment with this strategy, a MIFCO outlet was recently opened in Sri Lanka during an official visit by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The inventory includes canned tuna, fish paste, crushed fish, and the 'Fasmeeru' brand of smoked fish.