Loans to purchase small ice plants now open for application

Financial loans for the purchase of small ice plants is now open for application under the new fisheries development program.

An amount of $400,000 (MVR 6.16 million) is to be dispensed to establish four ice plants.

Fisheries Ministry said that the loans are being facilitated as a means to enable the fisherman to keep their catch freshly iced until they reach buying vessels and factories. They said that the loans may be utilized to purchase the machinery and the equipment necessary to install the ice plants.

The Ministry also said that the guidelines and loan application forms are now available from the Ministry and from Bank of Maldives cells and island branches during official working hours, .

The application deadline stands until 12pm on 28th of March 2013. The application form are to be collected by the Bank of Maldives cells and island branches. The Ministry also said that the forms submitted during the first 30 days of application will be evaluated first, and said that the forms submitted after the first 30 day period will be evaluated after the application deadline has passed.

The Ministry said that the applicants will be notified as soon as evaluation is completed.