Govt. signs with European joint-venture for consultancy on Gulhifalhu project

Economic Ministry has signed the contract agreement for consultancy on the international port development project planned for K. Gulhifalhu with a European joint-venture.

According to an earlier statement by Finance Ministry, the joint-venture between Dutch consultancy company – Maritime and Transport Business Solutions (MTBS) - and Denmark consultancy company – NIRAS – had been awarded consultancy on the project USD 1,050,362 on August 28.

The Economic Ministry now reports the contract agreement was signed, and the consultancy work officially handed over to the joint-venture this Monday.

The contract was signed by Economic Ministry’s Director, Ahmed Migdad, and Director, NIRAS Ports and Maritime, Jesper Harder.

The government also recently contracted out the work to design a masterplan for the Gulhifalhu project to a Singaporean company. The Singaporean company, HQ Company, was contracted the work for USD 650,000 (MVR 10,010,000) in a ceremony held at the Maldivian embassy headquarters in Singapore on September 18.

Once the Gulhifalhu port is complete, the Male’ Commercial Harbor will be relocated to Gulhifalhu – effectively easing the congestion effecting the commercial port in the capital.

The government’s greater plan for the Male’ area also includes linking Male’, Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi via causeways – in a move designed to further ease the flow of cargo and boost the economy.