Discussions took place with China on developing an agricultural establishment in Uthuru Thila Falhu to cultivate all fruits and vegetables that could be grown in the Maldives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said on Saturday.
In a press statement upon his return to the country after concluding his first state visit since assuming office, President Muizzu said developing a facility capable of supplying about 200,000 people was discussed.
“Discussions took place on setting up an agricultural establishment in Uthuru Thila Falhu capable of producing all the types grown in the Maldives for the people of the country, enough for at least 200,000 people,” President Muizzu said.
During his trip from January 7 to 12, the President visited the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science in Beijing. Top officials of the academy expressed interest in working together with the Maldives, the President’s Office said.
Work on building a naval dockyard and harbor for the Maldives National Defense Force is ongoing after land reclamation in Uthuru Thila Falhu.
The project was awarded for USD 186 million to Indian railway company Rail Vikash Nagam. A USD 50 million loan was also arranged for the project.
The Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement was made with India by the previous government. The opposition leadership at the time, who are in government now, alleged at the time that Indian soldiers would be permanently stationed in the Maldives under the agreement. Both the Indian and Maldivian government denied the allegations then.
During the last presidential election campaign, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged to award plots of land from the area to people who have resided in Male’ for more than 20 years. But that is not a policy of the current administration.
