MIFCO Temporarily Relocates Operations to Felivaru Island Following Gov’t Decision

Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) has temporarily relocated its operations from Kanduoh-giri Island to Felivaru Island.

The move comes after the government decided to transfer Kanduoh-giri Island to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). On Thursday, senior officials from MIFCO and the MNDF conducted a site inspection on Kanduoh-giri Island.

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The Cabinet of Ministers has directed the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to allocate a suitable plot of land in Hulhumale’ for MIFCO to continue its operations. MIFCO has stated that discussions with HDC regarding this acquisition are ongoing.

MIFCO aims to seize investment opportunities and expand its services by securing appropriate land in Hulhumale’ as soon as possible. The company has highlighted the importance of this acquisition for utilising a USD 8 million investment funded by the Saudi Fund and the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB).

Following the transfer of Kanduoh-giri to the MNDF, MIFCO must vacate the entire facility by 15 September. In the interim, the company has begun producing its lifestyle products at the Felivaru complex.

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam commented that although Kanduoh-giri was intended to address challenges faced by the fishing industry, a lasting solution has yet to be achieved despite prolonged efforts.

Kanduoh-giri had served as a hub for MIFCO’s production of lifestyle products, including pre-packaged foods. The island also functioned as a facility for weighing yellowfin and skipjack tuna caught by local fishermen, as well as for providing ice to support the fishing industry.