Author: Minivan News

‘Market Harbour’ project amended, bids re-open

The Economic Development Ministry has announced that the ‘Market Harbour’ project, designed to develop island harbours, has been reopened bidding, Haveeru News reports.

The project was first announced on March 24, 2011. The Ministry has since amended the proposal to suit amendments proposed by island councils.

The ‘Market Harbour’ projects intends harbours to be developed along regional, atoll and local standards. The projects will take effect in Dhaal atoll Kuda Huvadhoo, Gaaf Dhaal atoll Gahdhoo, Thinadhoo and Ihavandhoo, Haa Dhaal atoll Kulhudhufushi, Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi, Meemu atoll Mulah and Raa Dhuvaafaru.

Haveeru News reports that project bidding is open to local and international companies. The report adds that facilities such as warehouses, banks, and guesthouses will be available.


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Bill proposed to abolish Foreign Investment Act

Preliminary debate began yesterday on a bill proposed by the government to abolish the Foreign Investment Act of 1979, as part of its economic reform package.

At yesterday’s sitting of parliament, opposition MPs severely criticised the legislation, arguing that abolishing the Act would facilitate corruption and “bankrupt” local businesses.

Presenting the bill, MP Alhan Fahmy of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said that the purpose of the bill was to open the country to unhindered investment by foreign businesses.

Kelaa MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) however accused the government of trying to turn the Maldives into the “money-laundering machine of the world” by removing restrictions to foreign investments.

Mausoom said that the Foreign Investment Act had been used to protect local industries and encourage joint ventures with Maldivians in the tourism industry, adding that bringing amendments to the 1979 law would be better than abolishing it.

Other opposition MPs speculated that the bill was part of an agenda to “sell off state assets” and undermine national interests and sovereignty.

While MDP MPs did not speak in the debate in the interest of expediting the legislative process, shouting matches broke out in the chamber sporadically and disrupted the debate.

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President hands out leaflets on economic reform agenda

President Mohamed Nasheed and senior officials of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) handed out flyers and leaflets containing information of the government’s economic reform agenda near the tsunami memorial area in Male’ yesterday.

Haveeru reported that President Nasheed, cabinet ministers and some MPs started distributing leaflets at the area after 4:30pm yesterday.

MDP meanwhile launched a door-to-door campaign last week to raise awareness among the public of the proposed economic reforms, including the introduction of direct taxation, deregulation and encouraging private ownership of land.

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Supreme Court dismisses appeal by former President Nasir’s family

The Supreme Court has informed Ahmed Nasir, son of former President Ibrahim Nasir, that there are no grounds to appeal a High Court decision in 1986, based on which the previous government confiscated the family’s estates and property in Male’.

Sun Online reported that the Supreme Court dispatched a 3-page letter to Ahmed Nasir noting that Maldivian law did not allow heirs to pursue legal action if the individual had not initiated it in his lifetime.

“Ibrahim Nasir died 22 years, 9 months, and 21 days after the High Court of the Maldives made a judgment in case number HC/84 30, on the 22nd day of the 11th month of the year 2008, and until his dying day, Ibrahim Nasir had not communicated any desire to take legal action to defend himself against the High Court judgment,” reads the Supreme Court letter.

Nasir left the Maldives in 1978 after ceding the presidency and lived in self-imposed exile in Singapore until his death in November 2008, shortly after former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was ousted in the country’s first multi-party election. Nasir’s body was flown to the Maldives for a state funeral and buried with full honours.

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Heavy Load re-submits proposal for developing Enboodhoo

A proposal to develop  Enboodhoo lagoon in Kaafu Atoll has been re-submitted by Heavy Load Maldives, a corporation linked to Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Chairperson Moosa ‘Reeko’ Manik, Haveeru reports.

The National Planning Council reportedly discussed the proposal by Heavy Load in early July. But officials said the proposal has not been fully approved, and all parties are invited to submit proposals.

Heavy Load received US$21 million (Rf269.8 million) from Thilafushi Corporation Limited (TCL) in late September, allegedly to reclaim 130 hectares from Thilafushi lagoon, reports Haveeru.

However, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) asked Heavy Load to halt work and open the project opportunity to other development groups.

Enboodhoo lagoon is located 10 kilometers from Malé.

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Resort proposal ‘not fully approved’, claims national planning council

National Planning Council has discussed a US$20 million proposal by Mohamed ‘Sim’ Ibrahim to develop two resorts in Malé Atoll, Haveeru reports.

Council reports said the proposal, which was submitted on June 19, was not fully approved.

Ibrahim is the Secretary General of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industries (MATI), and the husband of Tourism Minister Dr Maryam Zulfa.

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Indian Council for Cultural Relations to co-sponsor Islamic Fair

The Islamic Ministry and the Indian High Commission in the Maldives will hold a joint Islamic Fair next month in Malé and two other atolls, Haveeru reports.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations will be co-sponsoring the fair, to be held from September 3 to 18. Addu City has been selected as one site, but no island in the city has been chosen yet, the report states.

The fair, scheduled for Raa atoll earlier this year, was originally postponed due to bad weather.


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Sri Lanka must take cue from Maldives’ tourism tactic: Sunday Times

Sri Lanka’s The Sunday Times reviews successes and risks in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, highlighting the Maldives as an example of successful marketing in a tight economy.

“Sri Lanka could take a cue from the Maldives where active promotion in going on to promote the destination, additionally now as a mid-market destination, from a high-end location. Resorts in the Maldives charges rates from US$200-300 upwards to over $1000 per night, and the authorities are now looking to attract the mid-market clientele which is also Sri Lanka’s market – though the two markets have different attractions.”

Adverse publicity is a weakness for Sri Lankan tourism, the Times noted, citing the Maldives as an example of proactive marketing in a time of change.

“[The Maldives] islands are attracting thousands of Chinese, which has made China the biggest source market for the Maldives in the past two years. According to one travel agent in the Maldives, ‘every agent is scrambling to get a slice of the Chinese market.’ The Chinese are seen as the biggest tourism source market of the world while India is also becoming a huge travel market. Sri Lankan hotels are still western-oriented with a few frills to meet the needs of other travellers.”

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MATATO welcomes increase in advertising budget

The Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has welcomed a government pledge to increase the tourism advertising budget from US$1.5 million to US$7 million next year.

MATATO Secretary-General Mohamed Maleeh Jamal told Haveeru that the association had assurances from President Mohamed Nasheed of the increase during recent consultations with the government.

Maleeh explained that increased marketing activities and advertising would maintain the Maldives as an up-market tourist destination in the face of growing competition and help local travel agencies secure more bookings.

The advertising budget was reduced from US$7 million to US$1.5 million in 2009 as part of austerity measures in response to the severe impact of the global economic recession on the Maldivian economy, which saw tourist arrivals plummet 10 percent in the first year of the new administration.

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