Practical work to relocate the Maldives’ main commercial port from Malé to Thilafushi will begin later this month, Economic Development and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed has announced, describing the project as a long-term solution to the country’s growing cargo and logistics demands.
Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, the minister said the relocation forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize the nation’s maritime infrastructure and strengthen trade capacity.
According to Saeed, the Maldives has continued to experience rapid growth in both population and economic activity over the past several decades, while its primary commercial port has remained largely unchanged.
He noted that the country’s import requirements have increased significantly due to population growth, expanding tourism and rising commercial activity, yet the existing port was designed around 40 years ago and is no longer capable of meeting current demand efficiently.
“The Maldives now serves a market equivalent to around 2.4 million people when both residents and tourist arrivals are taken into account, but we are still operating with a port built four decades ago,” the minister said.
Saeed stressed that expanding port capacity is essential to supporting the country’s continued economic development, particularly as tourism projects and private sector investments continue to grow.
He said the government is moving beyond planning and has already begun implementing the relocation project, with the official foundation stone scheduled to be laid on July 6.
According to the minister, construction is progressing with the goal of completing the relocation of the Malé Commercial Port to Thilafushi by November 2027.
He added that preliminary work has already started to improve port operations ahead of the project’s official launch. As part of these preparations, a dedicated container yard for storing empty shipping containers has already been developed and brought into operation in Thilafushi to ease congestion at the existing port.
The relocation project is expected to significantly expand cargo-handling capacity, improve operational efficiency and reduce congestion at Malé’s existing commercial harbour, which has long faced pressure from increasing import volumes.
The government has identified the development of modern transport infrastructure as one of its key priorities, alongside the ongoing expansion of Velana International Airport. Officials have said the new commercial port is expected to enhance the country’s logistics network, support faster cargo handling and strengthen the Maldives’ ability to accommodate future economic growth.
Once completed, the Thilafushi Commercial Port is expected to become the country’s primary cargo gateway, providing larger and more modern facilities to support import and export activities while improving the overall efficiency of maritime trade.
