DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

With the Maldives Fishermen’s Association facing serious capacity deficiencies, there is
no organisational framework for collaboration between Maldives’ fish exporters for
product promotion. There is need for government assistance in establishing an export
group and for a variety of support services to be provided to it.
The goal would be to increase the export volume and value destined for the high end of
markets, which will result in a direct increase in income generation for the industry.
Additional employment will be created in the industry at sea and on shore.
The export group will need seed financing for its activities during the first few years to
prepare documentation and establish a network. The export group should be seen as a
facilitator with the main responsibility to carry out export promotion and market research.
It should participate in the major international fish fairs and trade fairs.
D. PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT
Modernization of the sector further requires extending the range of primary production
through catch and aquaculture and in developing new high value processed for export as
well for as the local tourism sector and the local market.
With the objective of enhancing export diversification and linkages, a product
development programme should be implemented. This would include expanding the
range of primary production through catch and aquaculture, and in terms of developing
new high value processed products for the export and tourism sector markets. The
programme will contribute further towards atolls development and gender equalisation if
the activities are executed regionally.
A new laboratory and processing hall should be made available for the common use of
the processing industry against a complementary user fee. The laboratory should be fully
equipped with facilities for testing the products under development, and to carry out
quality control. A least cost approach would be to expand the role of MRC to encompass
product development (which is a slight diversion from the recommendation of the KF
study where an entire new facility/laboratory would be established). Towards this end,
MRC should act as a facilitator as it would link demand driven product development to
its own scientific knowledge concerning the availability of the sustainable raw material
base. Some potential products based on existing demand patterns in European and Asian
markets are the following:
• Filleting and freezing (block/IQF);
• De-boning;
• Sausages, fish burgers and fish fingers;
• Smoking;
• Vacuum packing and wrapping;
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