The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Moosa Zameer, has stated that the government is currently undertaking development projects by awarding them to companies that possess the necessary technical and financial capabilities.
Speaking at the ceremony held to launch the land reclamation phase for the Dhidhdhoo airport and housing projects in Haa Alif Atoll, Minister Zameer highlighted that the results of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s initiatives are now becoming evident.
The Minister noted that, reflecting on past practices, some projects were not executed in the most efficient or beneficial manner. He pointed out that many airports previously developed in the Maldives were constructed without proper planning or feasibility studies regarding their sustainability. This, he emphasized, resulted in significant financial burdens on the state budget.
“I recall that during my tenure as Tourism Minister in 2014, most airports were operated under Civil Aviation and were funded directly by the government budget. It was a very difficult situation; even when facilities deteriorated, maintenance and repairs could not be effectively carried out,” Minister Zameer remarked.
The Finance Minister further explained that President Dr. Muizzu is now implementing projects by leveraging the technical and financial strengths of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Citing the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) as an example, the Minister identified it as a capable entity with a proven track record of managing successful projects.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister stated that there is no longer any room to question President Dr. Muizzu’s initiatives based on past failures. He described the President as a visionary leader who executes tasks with a high degree of competence and foresight.
The government is also actively working to enhance the capacity of SOEs and is collaborating with private companies to strengthen their capabilities in project execution.
