President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has declared that the relocation of the Male’ Commercial Harbour to the industrial island, Thilafushi will serve as a vital catalyst for the Maldives' economic growth, significantly boosting productivity and elevating local businesses.
Speaking to the media after inspecting the ongoing development at Thilafushi, President Muizzu expressed profound satisfaction with the project's rapid pace. Accompanied by Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Cabinet Ministers, Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) CEO Hussain Shafeeq, and representatives from the executing Chinese firm, the President reviewed completed milestones, phase breakdowns, and future timelines. He reaffirmed that the initiative remains a top priority for his administration.
"The commercial port currently in the Maldives is no longer adequate for the pace at which the Maldivian economy is growing. Especially as major development projects come to the Maldives in such a short period, this is a crucial project to facilitate that growth. So we are expanding and developing a modernised port,” he explained.
Highlighting the sheer scale of the upgrade, the President noted that the new facility will expand operational services fourfold, acting as a gateway for broader economic expansion. As an interim step, certain port operations will be temporarily shifted to an area being prepared within the Male’ Industrial Zone. The government's ambitious target is to fully relocate all port services to Thilafushi by 11 November of next year.
Work on the domestic key wall is currently in its final stages, with services from this section expected to commence later this month.
President Muizzu commended the collaborative efforts of relevant ministries, state enterprises, and international partners for driving the project forward, emphasising that the modernised hub is the single most critical infrastructure endeavor currently underway to enhance national productivity and commerce.