Minister Saeed: Commitments have been made for investment of $600 million

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed has said that commitments to investments of $ 600 million have been made for the five years ahead.

In a news conference held at President’s Office by Economic Council on Wednesday, Minister Saeed said that in the year 2014, people who commenced business have been increased by 20 percent while 19 foreign investments not related to tourism have come to Maldives and commitments worth $600 million have been invested for the five years ahead.

Minister Saeed said that Maldives provided a wider range of foreign investment opportunities when compared with the opportunities provided before.

He noted that the government would not allow any type of business opportunities that can have negative impact on Islamic values. In that regard he said that religious freedom and homosexuality could not be permitted in their government.

Speaking in the press conference, Fisheries Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee said that 300 job opportunities have been created from long line fishing while more than 1,000 jobs have been provided to fishermen within one year.

Responding to the criticisms made by the opposition parties to the foreign policy, Dr. Sahinee said that strengthening relationship with China must not be a reason to weaken relationship with other countries and that Maldives still has close relations with India.

Minister Dr. Shainee said that some people try to violate the relationship between Maldives and other countries, which can have harmful effect on all the citizens of Maldives.