News DeskThe scene at the luxury Villa Nautica Resort on Wednesday looked like just another seaside conference, with delegates in crisp business attire mingling over coffee and pastries. But the discussions underway signal grand ambitions for the Maldives’ maritime future.
Mohammed Wajeeh Ibrahim, the chief executive of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), told the gathered experts that the island nation is on the cusp of a “revolutionary change” in its shipping and port infrastructure, with the full backing of the government.
“This is a very important time for us,” Mr. Wajeeh said in his opening remarks at the one-day Maldives Maritime Conference. “Stakeholders from home and abroad will meet to discuss the challenges and progress in our maritime sector, shaping its future direction.”
He ticked off a string of major development projects at the heart of this upheaval: the relocation of the capital’s commercial port, an ambitious new transshipment hub on the upcoming industrial island of Ihavandihpolhu, and bunkering facilities for refueling ships around the remote Laamu Gaadhoo island.
In a candid interview, speaking to TruthMV, on the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Wajeeh said the conference provides a crucial opportunity to learn from the maritime world’s established players about best practices in areas like port operations, infrastructure and long-term planning. Maldives Ports Limited, he said, is charting an ambitious new course.
The one-day conference, opened by the internal security and technology minister, Ali Ihsan, has drawn maritime companies, regional delegations and technical experts from around the world. In addition to local stakeholders, it includes representatives from international bodies like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the global ports association.
For the Maldives, an archipelago of just 300,000 people scattered across 1,200 tiny coral islands, punching above its weight in the growing trans-shipment trade could unlock an economic windfall. Most container ships currently bypass the Indian Ocean nation, which has long lacked modern port facilities.
Mr. Wajeeh struck an optimistic tone about the future, pointing to the government’s commitment to an industrial renaissance focused on the maritime sector. Upgrading the country’s maritime infrastructure, he said, could be “revolutionary” for economic growth.
“We are a nation surrounded by sea,” Mr. Wajeeh said. “The potential is there to be unlocked.”
