The Maldives has opened its first-ever salt factory dedicated to the production of salt for use in food and beverages. 

Located in Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo, the facility was developed by local private firm M. Deep Investment in collaboration with a Japanese company. The Dhidhdhoo Council has leased 15,000 acres of land to the company for a period of 15 years to support the project.

The factory employs a natural method of salt production by drying seawater using sunlight and heat. It is designed to produce three varieties of salt, including a commonly used household variety and other specialised types. One area of focus includes experimenting with salt specifically tailored for the preparation of salted fish, a staple in Maldivian cuisine. The products will be distributed across local resorts as well as residential areas throughout the country.

Prior to the factory's launch, samples of Maldivian sea salt were sent to Japan for quality testing. The results confirmed that Maldivian sea salt is of good quality and contains notable health benefits when compared to salt produced in other countries. This finding helped pave the way for the factory's establishment, with operations officially beginning last year.

Producing a batch of salt typically takes up to one week. The process involves filtering and purifying seawater before allowing it to dry. Each batch will undergo quality testing, not only within the Maldives but also in laboratories in Japan, to ensure consistency and safety standards.

Looking ahead, M. Deep Investment has announced plans to expand its operations by establishing four additional salt factories in various regions of the country, contingent on the continued success of the Dhidhdhoo facility.