The Fisheries Ministry has instructed that the current local market area be cleared by tomorrow to commence construction work on the Malé Market Complex.

This project aims to consolidate all main markets operating in Malé into a single building. Although the project was awarded to Trusten Maldives Private Limited in March of this year, actual work had been delayed for five months because the necessary land had not been handed over by the Malé City Council, according to the Ministry.

To resolve this issue, a temporary market has been established on a plot behind Malé Thasee Koshi, and stalls have been allocated to vendors. The temporary market features a total of 124 stalls, of which 96 have been set up, with arrangements underway for the remaining 28 parties. A Fisheries Ministry official stated today that vendors have been given a final notice to completely clear and hand over the site by tomorrow.

Costing MVR 117 million under a contractor-finance arrangement, the market complex project is scheduled for completion within two years. The six-story building will feature a total area of 85,000 square feet, including basement parking, a ground-floor fish market, three floors dedicated to agricultural produce, a rooftop food court, five elevators, and a five-ton ice machine. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that the market will be managed by MIFCO.