TrustEng Maldives has been awarded an MVR 126 million contract to develop a wet market for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables in Male'.
The Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement that the Male' Wet Market Complex will be developed on the land opposite the fish market.
The building has six floors, including a basement for parking and a terrace. The fish market will be on the ground floor. The next three floors are designated to sell fruits, vegetables and local products. The top floor is reserved for food outlets.
The ministry also released sample drawings of the market. One of the most striking features is the panels symbolising fish scales on the exterior of the building.
Male' Wet Market Complex Project
- Contractor - TrustEng Maldives
- Value - MVR 126,359,594.94
- Completion period - One year and six months
The facility is being funded by the Japanese government, President Mohamed Muizzu said at a meeting with the people of Henveiru in December last year.
The plan to build a single facility for the markets in Male' was first announced in 2019 when Shifa Mohamed was the Mayor of the capital city. Muizzu, who became the Mayor after that, planned to build a facility for the fish market.
When he was mayor, he awarded the development of the fish market for USD 6.1 million (MVR 94 million). However, the agreement was terminated after Muizzu became President and before the election of the new Mayor Adam Azim.
City Councillor Saif Fathih filed a corruption complaint over the agreement and a second agreement worth USD 9.5 million signed when the mayor's position became vacant.
Saif said the second agreement was signed by the legal section head Ali Naseer Qasim. He has not been able to explain how USD 3.5 million was added to the first agreement and why the second agreement was signed.
The second agreement, worth about MVR 147 million, was signed before Azim was elected mayor.
At the time, the mayor's position was vacant following Muizzu's victory in the presidential election.
Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh was undertaking the mayor's responsibilities. He is currently an advisor to the Youth Minister.
