People's National Congress (PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday night pledged to carry out projects announced in 2015 under the special economic zones (SEZ) law.
At a campaign rally in Shaviyani Funadhoo ahead of the second round of the presidential election on September 30, Muizzu said that a very important law had been passed as part of former President Abdulla Yameen's policy in order to achieve economic progress.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition's manifesto includes the development of a zone under the SEZ law, he said.
"Investments haven't been brought yet to the country under that [SEZ] law. That law very clearly states how it can be done. So we included implementing the said SEZ law in our manifesto," Muizzu said.
Special economic zones would be declared in designated important areas under the SEZ law and investments would be attracted, he said. The areas would be determined after "strategic" planning, he added.
During President Yameen's government, an SEZ project was planned to be carried out in Faafu Himithi and the uninhabited island's lagoon. A special "Board of Investment" was created for the project.
PPM-PNC presidential candidate Dr. Muizzu was a member of the board. The project stalled due to the failure to secure financing.
