Author: Mohamed Reehaan
Two new food outlets have been added to the line-up of franchised eateries and cafeteria at the Velana International Airport (VIA). Grape Expectations Private Limited and global restauranteur HMSHost opened their outlets at the international departure terminal. Grape Expectation’s ‘The Grape’ is the company’s first food outlet in the Maldives, to be opened in the Maldives, while HMSHost opened an outlet operated by KFC, Costa Coffee and Grab and Fly. The two companies have been managing restaurants at VIA since 2018. Managing Director of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) Ibrahim Shareef inaugurated the two new outlets alongside the Managing…
The Maldives Parliament has passed an MVR 49.8 billion (USD 3.2 billion) state budget for the upcoming 2024. The budget was approved at Wednesday’s sitting, December 13 with 65 votes in favor. The government earlier proposed an MVR 49.5 billion, which was assessed by the Budget Review Committee. The committee made revisions to it by removing the Fushidhiggaru reclamation project with a budgeted allocation of MVR 400 million, and redistributing the allocation to other ongoing initiatives and the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP). As such, the Budget Review Committee allocated MVR 200 million from the MVR 400 million for Fushidhiggaru…
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced it will extending a disbursement of USD 300,000 to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) towards paying the salaries of the FAM staff. FIFA has strictly conditioned FAM that its disbursements should only be made to pay the remuneration of the employees. Out of the total amount pledged by FIFA, the federation has already deposited USD 100,000 to FAM’s account for the conditioned purpose. The newly appointed General Secretary of FAM Mohamed Jaushan Shareef said that FIFA’s payment would be deposited in three stages. He confirmed the first disbursement has been…
Aasandha Company’s Managing Director Aminath Zeeniya has revealed that 56% of the Aasandha budget allocated by the Maldives government is spent on local pharmacies. The new MD of Aasandha, while speaking at the SOE Committee of the Parliament on Tuesday, December 12, said that the largest portion of Aasandha budget was spent on pharmaceuticals. She further said that the currently active bulk procurement policy would offset the state’s expenditure made on purchasing medicine. Zeeniya also revealed 11 of the most in-demand medicine are brought under the said bulk procurement policy right now. Aasandha held discussions with the World Health Organization…
The Maldives has welcomed over 1.7 million tourists by December 11, 2023 according to the Ministry of Tourism. According to the ministry on its most recent arrival update, the total arrivals to the Maldives as of the review date stood at 1,747,369; which is a 12.7% annual increment compared to the same period in 2022. Top 10 Markets Russia: 197,020 India: 192,995 China: 180,059 UK: 143,566 Germany: 127,179 Italy: 103,873 USA: 69,010 France: 45,617 Spain: 38,490 Switzerland: 34,721 The daily average of arrivals in annual terms is now at 5,232 while the average duration of stay in annual terms is…
Kuda Villingili Maldives has been named The Best Honeymoon Hotel 2023 by the White Awards. The accolade was bestowed to the luxury holiday property after several rounds of independent vetting process and careful consideration by wedding industry experts. Situated in the North Male’ Atoll, Kuda Villingili Maldives is an idyllic tropical retreat for guests of all colors of life. The luxury property promises the perfect island getaway for “creating treasured memories” which is complemented by the highest service standards, spacious beach and top-tier accommodation coupled with a unique culinary experience from seven different restaurants offering 11 distinctive cuisines from around…
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has urged women to take significant roles in policymaking. She made the remarks while delivering her speech at the opening ceremony of ‘Ranhiru Dharubaaru’. In her speech, the Maldives First Lady highlighted the significance of women’s empowerment in the development of a nation. She said that while more women were in various occupations and civil services in the Maldives, men are still more engaged in higher-level leadership. She also emphasized the importance of rectifying such issues and expressed her optimism that through the ‘Ranhiru Dharubaaru’ discussions would be held regarding the key challenges encountered by women,…
Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has appointed new senior officials to multiple government bodies on Tuesday, December 12. President Muizzu appointed Ahmed Naseer and Ahmed Munawar as advisors to the Minister of Finance. Both advisors were appointed at the ministerial rank and entrusted with the responsibility of delivering financial counsel to ministers. President also appointed Fathimath Inaya as the new Foreign Secretary of Maldives at the ceremony as well. This marks the first time in the country’s history, a woman has been appointed as the Foreign Secretary. Inaya formerly worked as a secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her…
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has promised that the current government will launch the “iHavan” project. The minister gave the assurance while responding to questions in the parliament on Tuesday, December 12. The “iHavan” project aims to transform the Maldives as a key hub of international shipping, with global shipping lines making frequent docking at Ihavandhippolhu; the northern-most point in the Maldives. The project was one of the largest economic development projects planned during the former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. At the time, Saeed, who was the then Minister of Economic Development as well, oversaw the completion…
The Maldives cabinet has decided on seeking parliamentary consideration to adopt and ratify The Minamata Convention on Mercury issued by the United Nations (UN). At the press conference held by the President’s Office on Monday afternoon, December 11, the Under Secretary of Public Policy Mohamed Firzul highlighted President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s decision on seeking parliamentary opinion to join the treaty following cabinet’s deliberation on a paper on the subject proposed by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy during Sunday’s cabinet meeting. President’s Office further highlighted that as part of the treaty’s implementation, equipment containing mercury would either be…