Minister

Born to one of the most successful and famous fishing community, Addu Atoll, in the Maldives, Dr.Ibrahim Didi is an energetic Minister of the first ever true democratic government of the Maldives elected to office in November 2008.

Overseeing one of the most challenging portfolios of the Maldivian Democratic Party Alliance’s government, Dr.Ibrahim Didi has travelled to every corner of the country and received public acceptance as the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture. Never showing any sign of fatigue, he is also actively engaged in the political activities of the MDP. In the historical presidential election of 2008, he held the key post of the MDP Alliance’s presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed’s chief spokesperson.

Currently, Dr.Didi is an active member of the MDP’s National Executive Council and the National Council.

Though Dr.Didi is a Dental Surgeon & Orthodontist by profession, his performance in the Fisheries and Agriculture sector, in this short while, has proven to be a successful manager and leader of the farmers and fisher’s folk of the Maldives.

A main objective of the Maldives Fisheries Training Centre is to provide necessary skills and knowledge for fishermen, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that one of the main objectives of the Maldives Fisheries Training Centre is to provide necessary skills and knowledge for fishermen.

The President made this statement this afternoon while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Maldives Fisheries Training Centre in Male-Villingili.

Highlighting the importance of skills and knowledge to develop any enterprise, the President said that earlier generations of fishermen had possessed the knowhow of fishing.

Speaking further, the President, however, said that as fishing methods had undergone tremendous changes, to develop the fisheries sector further, the Maldives needed to acquire modern technology, skills, and the science of fisheries.

The President said that the newly opened Centre would cater for these training needs. In his speech, the President reiterated that the government’s promise was to find ways to increase the earnings of fishermen.

He added to achieve that goal, we needed to ensure that our catch reach buyers in good quality.

sorce: http://presidencymaldives.gov.mv

Fishing Zones to be opened up soon - President

All regions of the country would soon be opened up to facilitate private parties to purchase fish directly from fishermen, President Mohamed Nasheed has revealed.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, the President said the objective of the opening up is to facilitate the best possible price for fishermen’s catch. He said discussions would be held with companies having exclusivity to purchase fish in the established zones on revoking the exclusivity permits issued by the previous government and if an agreement cannot be reached, the matter would be decided by the courts.

When asked about the concerns expressed by companies like Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) on the huge losses the companies may face if the country was opened up, the President said the government gives priority to protect the rights of the fishermen who have invested in the fisheries industry rather than the investments of a few companies.

Responding to a question from some media, a senior member of private company engaged in fisheries industry said during the campaign trails Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was very vocal on stopping fishing activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as it provided little revenue to the government and that the government is not so enthusiastic on doing it any more. He said the president’s plan to open up the country for private buyers shows the government’s intention to use the fisheries industry as a political tool.