Nasheed calls for competitive tender for Ras Malé project

Former President and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Mohamed Nasheed has called for the government’s proposed waterfront and marina development with UAE-based Eagle Hills to be awarded through a competitive tender and developed outside the Greater Malé region.

Speaking at a press conference at the MDP office on Wednesday, Nasheed said he supported foreign direct investment and privatisation in principle, but raised concerns over how the Ras Malé project was being pursued.

The government signed a commercial terms agreement with Eagle Hills on Monday for the Maldives Waterfront and Marina development in Ras Malé. The planned development includes hotels and resorts, tourist villas and residences, a marina, restaurants, retail outlets and other facilities.

Nasheed said key information about the project, including its terms and conditions, should be made public.

He said Eagle Hills had also held discussions about a major development during his administration and that the company had proposed a project of this scale at the time.

Nasheed said the MDP’s position then was that such a development should be located outside the Greater Malé region, arguing that concentrating further economic opportunities around the capital would contribute to depopulation of the islands.

“The biggest concern is that this is not being carried out through a tender. It should be done through a tender process,” Nasheed said when asked about his concerns over the project.

He said there were also questions about whether services typically provided at tourist resorts would be permitted at the proposed development because of its location close to a residential area.

“There are still matters that need to be clarified,” Nasheed said, questioning whether Eagle Hills would proceed with the investment if some tourism services could not be provided at the development.

Nasheed said his other concern was the decision to locate the project in the Greater Malé region, despite concerns over population concentration in the capital.

“You can see that the islands are already becoming depopulated. If all economic development and opportunities are brought to this area again, the rate at which the islands become depopulated will continue to increase,” he said.

Nasheed, however, said he supported foreign direct investment as a matter of principle and believed such investment could benefit the Maldives.

“As a principle, I see foreign direct investment as a good thing. In my view, it can bring significant benefits to the Maldives,” he said.