President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has departed on an official visit to Addu City.

The president, accompanied by a high-level delegation of government officials, left for Addu on Saturday afternoon.

During the visit, the president will inaugurate the land reclamation project in the city, and the upgrade of the Gan International Airport.

He will also check the progress of other development projects in Addu, and meet community leaders for discussions on the development needs of the city.

The land reclamation project in Addu, contracted to the Dutch company Van Oord, will see the reclamation of 194 hectors of land in the southern city; 90 hectors in Hithadhoo, 23.3 hectors in Hulhumeedhoo, and 76 hectors in Maradhoo and Maradhoo Feydhoo.

Land will also be reclaimed to develop uninhabited islands for tourism.

The project which is funded with a USD 800 million line of credit approved by the Indian government via India’s EXIM Bank.

Meanwhile, the upgrade of the Gan International Airport, contracted to India’s Renaatus, will see the development of a passenger terminal and facilities to serve 1.5 million passengers annually.

The project is financed with a USD 17 million (MVR 272.2 million) loan from India’s EXIM Bank.