New airport runway project will begin soon: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that major projects at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), including the construction of a new runway, will begin soon.

The president said this at the ceremony held today to inaugurate a food court at the departure area in the airport.

He said that the airport was on its way to become a world class airport, and expressed confidence that the government would soon be able to acquire financing to build a new runway.

“Just like world class resorts, the airport is also becoming a world class airport. And all these things are happening with the participation of Maldivians, by the new Maldivian management led by Mohamed Umar Manik and Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem,” he said.

President Waheed said that he was especially happy that the developmental efforts at the airport were being led by a Maldivian management team.

The President further stated that the food court was the first big project in a series of many projects that would follow in the development of the airport. He also expressed happiness over the fact that world famous brands are being introduced in the Maldives.

“First, it was Swensen’s that established an outlet here. Then Thai Express, Burger King and Coffee Club. We hope more brands will come here. Thank you for your work and your confidence in us,” he said.

He also underlined the developmental benefits of the project to the country, including employment opportunities, especially part-time, for many young Maldivians in the new outlets.

“A lot of students come from the atolls. There’s no way for them to earn money, and most of them don’t have enough money for their personal spending. Now, this facilitates that opportunity for those students,” he said, referring to the students of CHSE present at the ceremony.