Pres hails Hanimaadhoo airport project as transformational for north
The president also highlighted the efforts made by the government to build airports across the country.
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President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday that the commencement of the Hanimaadhoo Airport development project is the biggest change in the north of the Maldives.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Indian external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, who is currently in the Maldives, inaugurated the construction of the Hanimaadhoo airport project, which is being developed under a loan of USD 136.6 million (MVR 2.1 billion) from Exim Bank of India.
President Solih began his speech by saying that "This is the beginning of this great north, the greatest change in the history of the entire great thiladhun".
Noting that every work done by the current government is done in a pattern, President Solih said:
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Each project begins with careful study and calculation and a complete plan based on the results obtained
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If this is not done, it is like a "rope in the sea" in today's time
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Sustainable development cannot happen without vision, tolerance and perseverance
The construction of Hanimaadhoo International Airport began on Wednesday with the president’s saying, "Wont stop, wont go back and will not disappear."
"If we start this way, God willing, this project will not stop again, or go backwards," he said.
"The affairs of a country and it’s people can be run in according to certain norms. A lot of personal feelings and dedications are set aside. If you don't have the patience and the mind, it will affect everyone. If we sidestep from the path, we will slip and end up on the street."
Assuring that funds for the project are in place, he highlighted the benefits of the development of the airport and completion. He said:
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With the completion of the airport, both directly and indirectly the economy of the region will start to flow
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Thousands of jobs will be created, and hotels and resorts' beds will increase manifold
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Many opportunities can be opened for different types of businesses and economic activities
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Will help make Boduthiladhunmathi a strong economic hub
"This is the progress and development that will be brought about naturally after this airport. Maldivians have experienced this," president Solih said, adding that the living example of this is the Male region.
"When there was no airport, Hulhumale was a thin, long strip of an island. There also were in close proximity to Hulhumale other similar islands, just like the rest of the country... The main reason for the rapid growth in Male is the International Airport that was spread out in Hulhumale," he said.
With projects in the north, similar development can be brought to the region as well, he said.
He also highlighted the efforts made by the government to build airports across the country:
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The airports at HA. Horafushi and GDh. Faresmathoda has been completed
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N. Maafaru International Airport expansion work mobilised
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Bids have been opened to find people who can raise funds for the construction of airports in H.Dh. Makunudhoo, Sh. Bilehfahi, B. Thulhadhoo and Th. Villufushi
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He said that once the construction of the airport in R. Atoll is completed, the domestic airports will connect the entire country.
