Project Airport Expansion a possibility because it remains our own says President

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that the airport expansion project was possible because the airport remains a property of Maldivians. The President stated this while addressing a special function held on Wednesday night to commence the expansion of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

In his speech, the President stated that if the situation had remained as it was earlier, then this expansion would not have been possible. He stated that with the expansion, the airport would become the economic backbone of the Maldives and that this would be the main gateway of modern day development.

During the speech the President stated that, upon completion of the expansion, 7.5 million tourists will be catered to per year. Also, the President stated that this would create thousands of job opportunities for the youth.

The President went on to highlight that, in near future, a transshipment port would be established in Thilafushi. Touching on the services these developments would lead to, the President described a scenario whereby cargo imported to the Thilafushi port was transported to Male’ and then to Hulhumale, via the bridge, from where the cargo would be transferred to the airport and exported as air cargo.

Additionally, the President stated that with the expansion of the T-jetty area in Male’, it would ease the difficulties residents face in garbage management.

At the function, the President inaugurated the Expansion project of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. After the inauguration, the President was presented with corporate gifts from the Beijing Urban Construction Group and Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. The gift from Beijing Urban Construction Group was presented by the Chairman of the Group, Mr. Dai Hu and the gift from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport was presented by the Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company, Mr. Adil Moosa.

The President was accompanied by Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Mohamed Saeed, Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy Mr. Liu Qiang, the Chairman of Beijing Urban Construction Group, Chairman of Maldives Airports Company, Mr. Mohamed Umar Manik, Ministers of the Cabinet, and Governmental Officials.