News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended the launch of MIFCO’s Fasmeereu value‑added fisheries products in Colombo on Tuesday, marking a push by the Maldives to expand processed seafood exports and strengthen its presence in regional markets.
The event, held as part of the President’s State Visit to Sri Lanka, featured a traditional Maldivian Malaafaiy, underscoring the cultural ties that frame the wider economic relationship between the two countries. MIFCO, the Maldives’ fully state‑owned industrial fisheries company, used the platform to introduce its upgraded product line to Sri Lankan partners and potential buyers.
The launch comes at a moment when the government is placing greater emphasis on value‑added production in the fisheries sector. Officials have repeatedly highlighted the need to move beyond raw exports and increase the share of processed goods in overseas markets. MIFCO’s Fasmeereu range is positioned as part of that shift, aimed at improving export earnings and diversifying product offerings.
The Colombo event also aligned with the seven Memoranda of Understanding signed between the Maldives and Sri Lanka earlier this week. Those agreements cover cooperation in fisheries, trade, education and defence, and were signed as the two countries marked 60 years of diplomatic relations. Malé and Colombo have both described the MoUs as a framework for deeper economic engagement.
For the Maldives, the launch served as both a commercial showcase and a signal of intent. The government is seeking to widen access for Maldivian products in neighbouring markets while strengthening the role of state‑owned enterprises in export‑driven growth.
