The government has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build fish factories in Dhaalu atoll, Gaafu Dhaalu atoll and Lhaviyani atoll.
The fish factories are to be established in Dhaalu Maadheyyaa, Gaafu Dhaalu Fiyoari and Lhaviyani Felivaru. The project was awarded to Dongfang Electric International Corporation of China.
Under the MoU signed today, facilities for fish landing, processing and storage will be established in the three islands.
The government said the fish factory in Dhaalu atoll would be developed in two phases. The first phase will include the construction of a harbor, accommodation, roads, a 1,500-tonne cold storage, brine and blast freezing facilities.
A 50-tonne processing facility will be built in the final phase of the Dhaalu atoll project.
A 3,000-tonne cold storage, a 100-tonne processing facility, a freezing facility, a fish meal plant and a rihaakuru processing factory is to be built in Gaafu Dhaalu Fiyoari.
Additionally, a 100-tonne processing facility will be built in Felivaru. The main purpose is to replace the cannery currently operated by Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) with a more modern facility.
