New Market Will Solve Problem of Foreigners Operating Market Cells: President

The problem of foreigners in the shop cells allocated to the locals will be solved after the completion of the new market in the Malé city.

The President's Office has launched a series called, "President's Answers" to answer questions from the public. Abdullah Ibrahim Manik, H.A. Baarashu, Madhoshimaage, has expressed concern over the current situation of the local markets.

In addition, Abdullah mentioned his biggest concern is that the market cells are allocated to Maldivians but foreigners are involved in running the cells. He said he gets a cell by renting it from foreigners.

Responding to his concerns and questions, President Dr. Muizzu said the tourist market and the local market in the city are not of the most highest standard.

He further said that the government has made a great effort to create the new market. The new market will replace the tourist market and the local market, he said.

The new market will be a 4-story building that will be set up to be state-of-the-art, on par with the standards in other countries where similar markets are located, and will have special spaces for local and tourist market vendors. The fish market will also be brought into the new market building, he said.

In addition, parking will be provided in the basement under the new market, he said.

"The construction of the market is in the early stages. This building will solve the problem mentioned by Abdullah. It will be very clean and beautiful, and the cells will be larger than the existing ones," he said.

The President said the work of the new market will start in April after the local market is demolished at the end of Ramadan.

The issue of foreigners running the market cells is a big issue and the government is working with the enforcement agencies to solve it, he said.

"The problem of foreigners operating market cells is very big. Cells are being allocated to Maldivians, as you just mentioned. It will be solved in the future by the relevant agencies in the government. When the new market is built," he said.