News Desk
ADDU CITY, — Practical work to establish an information and communications technology hub in Addu City will begin shortly, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said, describing the project as a central pillar of the government’s plan to transform the southern region into a centre for digital innovation.
Speaking at the PNC’s campaign launch in Addu City, Saeed said the government had succeeded in bringing the long‑delayed Shangri‑La resort back into operation after repeated postponements by its owners. He framed the reopening as part of a broader effort to revitalise Addu’s economy and attract new investment.
Saeed highlighted several major initiatives underway, including the planned landing of a Google subsea cable that will cross the Indian Ocean and connect to Oman through Hithadhoo. The cable, he said, would provide “hyperscale connectivity” and open the door for Addu to become a regional ICT hub.
In his Presidential Address, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the creation of the country’s first SME Development Zone in Addu City — covering Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo — with operations scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.
SMEs operating within the zone will receive a three‑year package of incentives and relief measures.
“During this year, we will put in place the legal, administrative and technical frameworks required to operationalise this initiative,” the President said. “This effort will, God willing, lead to the expansion of small and medium enterprises, create new employment opportunities, and generate significant economic benefits for Addu City and for the entire nation.”
Saeed said the ICT hub project gained momentum after President Muizzu met Google officials during a visit to New York. “He asked them to bring that progress to Addu,” Saeed said, adding that the government had worked for more than a year to secure the agreement.
He claimed the planned hub would be unmatched elsewhere in Asia and criticised the previous administration for what he described as a lack of ambition.
Saeed said the government’s development agenda for Addu and the wider south was advancing rapidly, with commitments “printed and handed over to the council” to ensure accountability.
He argued that the country was “moving forward” under the current administration and that the promises made to Addu City and the southern atolls were now being implemented.
