Maldivians will gain more after the current economic crisis stabilizes - Naseem

Miadhu

The current economic recession being experienced across the globe is being tackled by world leaders as a matter of urgency and once stabilized ‘Maldivian pockets’ will be filled with more riches, state ministry for foreign affairs Ahmed Naseem has said. Minister made the statement on Monday while briefing the press on recent to India to attend the Third Sustainability Summit Asia at Dharubaaruge. He said it is important tackle the current economic recession wisely with caution.

When asked by Miadhu Daily regarding the anticipated 20 percent decline in Maldives tourism, whether such a decline resulting in huge losses to the economy can be sustained, especially in the light of prevalent difficulties in obtaining foreign currencies from banks, state minister Naseem replied that he is confident such losses can be sustained.

He said Maldives tourism can be introduced new markets. In this regard he noted India and Middle East countries. He said he understood Maldives resorts has been very successful in ongoing winter holidays , although some difficulties may exist in filling up the resorts in summer holidays and that additional opportunities are still open to offset the anticipated decline for 2009.

He further said fisheries sector can be opened for more investments and that the government was already working on them. He said it would be unwise to base the economy entire on the revenue earned from tourism, and additional ways to generate revenue from fisheries has be sought.