The Planning Ministry has gazetted the "regulation on the allotment of uninhabited islands for purposes other than fisheries, agriculture and economic uses" to allow for the lease of islands for research and social purposes.
According to the regulation, the President shall determine, with advice from a Cabinet committee, the islands to be allocated that are not under the jurisdiction of the councils.
Islands within the jurisdiction of the councils will be rented out by the council while the rest will be leased by the Planning Ministry. Under the new regulations, islands can be leased in three ways.
- By announcement on the basis of tender
- Submitting a detailed report on what is planned to be done on the island
- Government can entrust a council with the management of islands
Islands allocated for non-economic uses can be leased for a maximum of 21 years. However, in the event of an extension, the lease term can be extended to 50 years if certain conditions are met.
