Author: Mohamed Reehaan
Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) has announced fee cuts at waste transfer stations within the Greater Male’ region. WAMCO said the revised pricing structure will be effective from March 01, 2024 onward. Private waste disposal vehicles utilizing facilities with weighbridges is now priced at USD49 per ton, and for state facilities, the fee is now at USD173 per ton based on the weight of the disposed garbage. Additionally, WAMCO said all users; private and state entities, as well as affiliated companies, will now be charged a service fee of USD 9.7 per vehicle visit to the WAMCO waste site.
SO/ Maldives’ Island Coutuer has announced the Grand Opening Party. This much anticipated event of the season titled “An Invite to the Front Row” is scheduled for March 23, 2024. The Grand Opening Party will be a “sensory feast” that combines the fashion-forward statements, avant-garde design, culinary excellence, artistic flair, exclusive wellness retreats, and a musical journey. The highlights include one of the first international fashion shows taking place in the Maldives, for which the Island Couture will transform into an oceanfront runway to showcase the latest swimwear collection debut by Milin. SO/ Maldives has also partnered with Riffath, one…
Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Khaleel on Thursday, February 29, 2024, confirms the air ambulance services will officially commence on Friday, March 01, 2024. According to the minister, the service initially will commence between the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The minister made the announcements while speaking at a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, where he provided details of the ministry’s achievements falling within the Hafthaa-14 (Week-14) roadmap initiated by the President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Dr. Khaleel said that two air ambulances will be used at the initial stage; a domestic plane and a seaplane. He further stressed on the…
China Eastern Airlines resumed direct flights from Kunming to Velana International Airport (VIA) on Wednesday evening, February 28, 2024. The resumption flight was welcomed with a water salute by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal and the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Wang Lixin attended VIA to greet the new arrivals on Wednesday evening. With the resumption of China Eastern, tourist arrivals from the country are expected to boost in numbers in 2024. Meanwhile, China remains as the top source market to the Maldives with over 50,000 arrivals as of February 26, 2024.
State Trading Organization (STO) has signed an agreement to supply and install 46 elevators in a 9-apartment complex developed by Apollo Holdings. STO will supply and install elevators in the first two towers in 2024, and will install a minimum of five elevators to be installed in each of the towers. STO will be installing Kone Elevators; which it began to import and sell last year.
Chinese arrivals exceeded 50,000 as of February 26, 2024, reports the Ministry of Tourism. While the momentum of Chinese tourist arrivals to the Maldives remains apace, Russia has stolen Italy’s spot to become the second strongest market, making Italy the third strongest now. UK is still the fourth strongest source market to the Maldives, while India, which in previous years topped the chart is currently the fifth strongest source market – in light of boycott movements by Indian citizens. Top 10 Markets China: 52,709 Russia: 37,877 Italy: 37,393 UK: 34,798 India: 25,751 Germany: 24,253 France: 15,506 USA: 12,615 Poland: 9,938…
The total assets of the Maldivian financial sector was reported at MVR 24.2 billion by the end of January 2024, which is a moderate decline according to the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). As per MMA, the total assets stood at MVR 24.8 billion by December 31, 2023. The total foreign currency financial assets by the review date reached MVR 8.85 billion. Cash balances with banks took majority share of the segment at MVR 4.41 billion and investments in securities took the second largest slice of the segment at MVR 3.94 billion. On the other hand, total local currency financial assets…
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has partnered with Savvy Sleep to introduce “The Westin Maldives Kids Sleep Manual”. The manual is designed to guide families through the steps on ensuring they get restful and rejuvenating sleep. Vacations often are a time of rest and rejuvenation for many travelers, however, for children, travel may pose unique challenges. The new program is designed to provide parents with expert guidance and essential amenities to help their children and babies sleep better. Crafted by the team of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort and Savvy Sleep, the dreamy sleep-recommended activities span from beachfront bedtime stories…
The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, announce disbursement of MVR 35 million to local fishers. The disbursement is a portion of Maldives government’s pledge of completely settling outstanding debt owed to the fishers. Earlier, the government committed to depositing the initial MVR 100 million from the MVR 300 million total owed to the fishers. On Wednesday, last week, the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources reached an agreement with MIFCO to distribute MVR 70 million from the initial sum to fishers. A total of MVR 105 million has been disbursed, including the MVR 35 million…
The Ambassador-at-Large Mohamed Hussain Shareef has attended the opening session of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This year’s Ministerial Conference (MC13) is held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Besides attending the opening session, Shareef met with the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security of Sri Lanka Nalin Fernando on the sidelines of the conference.