Hanimaadhoo airport strengthens India-Maldives regional partnership
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport, a major infrastructure project financed under India’s Line of Credit. The airport, celebrated as a “gateway to prosperity,” is expected to transform the northern Maldives by improving tourism, trade, and regional connectivity. This development represents a key milestone in enhancing economic growth, infrastructure, and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. President Muizzu called the new facility a “symbol of economic transformation,” emphasising its potential to uplift tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and social development in northern atolls. The airport is not only a transportation hub but also an instrument of balanced national growth, promoting decentralisation and bringing economic opportunities beyond the capital region. Its impact is expected to extend across various sectors, creating long-term employment and business prospects. Funded through India’s USD 800 million Line of Credit by EXIM Bank, the project was built by India’s JMC Projects at a cost of USD 136.6 million.