Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) has appointed Reesham Mohamed Shareef as a member of its Board of Directors to represent fishermen. The appointment was made by the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) following President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to expand the role of fishermen in the management of MIFCO.

The move fulfils one of President Dr Muizzu’s campaign pledges to ensure that fishermen have a greater voice and active participation in the decision-making of the state-owned fisheries company.

In December 2023, the President announced significant structural changes to MIFCO, dissolving it as a subsidiary of the State Trading Organization (STO) and re-establishing it as a fully state-owned enterprise.

The government has since undertaken a series of measures to strengthen MIFCO’s operations and improve conditions for fishermen, reaffirming its commitment to enhance the country’s fisheries sector — one of the key pillars of the Maldivian economy.