President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that major efforts are underway to turn Addu City into a prosperous regional centre for business and job creation.
Speaking on the sixth episode of the government podcast series The Pulse, which focused on national infrastructure development, the President emphasised that as the most populous urban area outside the capital Male’, Addu City remains a prime focus for his administration’s economic strategy.
Addressing the immediate challenges facing the southern hub, President Muizzu identified job creation and resolving persistent electricity issues as the city's highest priorities. To boost local commerce, the government plans to roll out a dedicated three-year project starting next year to designate Addu as a special development zone for medium-sized enterprises.
"Under this project, measures such as providing relief from land rent or government fees will be implemented for a period of three years. Efforts will also begin to turn Addu into a designated business zone. Along with the Hankede project, favourable opportunities will open up for the tourism sector as well,” President Muizzu explained, adding that the physical work on these developments will begin soon.
In addition to economic incentives, the President provided updates on broader infrastructure and healthcare initiatives spanning various cities across the archipelago. Efforts to construct tertiary hospitals are advancing through preliminary stages, with specific projects—such as the new hospital in Fuvahmulah City—moving forward under external funding frameworks.
Highlighting progress in other regions, President Muizzu confirmed that harbour expansion work in Fuvahmulah City is already underway, while physical work on the promised Thinadhoo airport project is set to begin soon. In Kulhudhuffushi City, where housing is the top priority, the administration has successfully resumed construction on 400 stalled housing units and plans to break ground on an additional 2,000 units in the near future.
President Muizzu reassured the public that key development pledges are actively progressing to ensure balanced, nationwide growth across all atolls.